| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08638764B2 |
Mobile telecommunications architecture
A mobile telecommunications architecture is disclosed. A downlink mobile telecommunications signaling message is received via a first communication interface associated with a single shared network controller connection to a mobile switching center (MSC) server. The downlink mobile telecommunications signaling message is mapped to one of a plurality of small scale base stations each of which is configured to perform at least some network controller functions. |
| US08638762B2 |
System and method for network integrity
A technique for maintaining network integrity is disclosed. A system according to the technique may include a wired network, a switch, and a wireless access point. The switch can be coupled to the wired network and the wireless access point can be coupled to the switch. The system may further include a forwarding database that stores a mac address for a plurality of devices seen by the switch on the wired network. A method according to the technique may involve detecting identifying information of a device by a wireless access point. The identifying information can be compared with the mac addresses in a forwarding database. If the device is unknown, the unknown device can be classified as rogue and countermeasures can be taken against the rogue device. |
| US08638760B2 |
System and method for dynamically establishing and managing connections
Techniques to dynamically manage wireless connections are described. For example, a mobile computing device may comprise a connection management module to dynamically select one of a plurality of switching technologies to initiate a connection with one or more target devices and automatically initiate the connection with the one or more target devices using the dynamically selected switching technology. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08638752B2 |
Method and system for handling QOS flows when moving between systems
When a mobile device moves from a first QoS-aware system to a second QoS-aware system, QoS flows may or may not be moved properly. To deal with this, the mobile device requests de-allocation of flows in the second QoS-aware system, and then initiates reservation of flows in the second QoS-aware system. After this, the mobile device will know for certain which QoS flows exist in the second QoS-aware system and can behave accordingly. |
| US08638750B2 |
Method and network device for creating and deleting resources
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for creating resources, a method for deleting resources, and a network device. The method for creating resources includes: notifying, by a first network element, a second network element at network side of a process type for creating resources for a UE; and performing, by the second network element, a process for creating resources for the UE according to the process type. With the embodiments of the present invention, a problem in the prior art that the network element at network side (i.e., the second network element at network side) cannot differentiate different access requests (i.e., initial access request and access request caused by handover between access systems) and thus corresponding resources cannot be created with respect to different access requests may be overcome. |
| US08638747B2 |
System and method for handoffs between technologies
Systems and methods for providing a handoff between technologies are disclosed. An intra-technology handoff occurs where the same integrated chassis handles the session for the different access technologies. In an intra-technology handoff, the same IP address and the session can be maintained through the handoff. The mobile node can undergo a handoff without issuing a registration request in some embodiments. An inter-technology handoff occurs from one integrated chassis to another integrated chassis. The integrated chassis can preserve session and context information in a session manager and in a handoff from one access technology to another the same session manager can be chosen with the session and context information remaining intact even though the access technology has changed. The integrated chassis can provide an access technology handoff where the core network does not notice any change and applications running on or delivered to the mobile node are not effected. |
| US08638740B2 |
Multimedia broadcast multicast service channel mapping and multiplexing
A system is provided for mapping multimedia broadcast multicast services. The system includes one or more processors programmed to map a plurality of multicast transport channels (MCHs) to a plurality of multicast/broadcast single frequency networks (MBSFNs) such that any one of the MBSFNs has only one MCH and further where each one of the MCHs is different. |
| US08638739B2 |
Method for transmitting frame to multi-user in wireless communications systems using plurality segment frequency bands and method for receiving the frame
Provided is a method for transmitting data frames to multiple STAs in a wireless communication system which divides a frequency band into frequency band segments to allocate. The method includes: setting a group by grouping a plurality of STAs; determining whether or not to separately allocate the frequency band segments to the STAs within the group; constructing a control frame containing a segment field, based on the determination result; and transmitting the constructed control frame through a common signal, and transmitting data frames. |
| US08638733B2 |
Apparatus and method for estimating map size in a broadband wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for estimating a MAP size in a broadband wireless communication system based on FFR are provided. In the method, one of a plurality of connections is selected according to priority between the connections. An available resource condition and a MAP size for allocation of resources for the selected connection is determined if resources acceptable for a burst are present in a zone including the selected connection. The next connection is selected according to the priority if available resources are present. The determined MAP size is determined as the final estimation value of a MAP size if the available resources are not present. |
| US08638732B2 |
Apparatus and method for allocating resources using codebook in a broadband wireless communication system
A method and an apparatus for allocating a resource in a broadband wireless communication system are provided. In the method, a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) level set and a burst size set to generate a codebook is determined. The codebook is generated using the MCS level set and the burst size set. Resource allocation information is one of generated and read according to the codebook. |
| US08638731B2 |
Femtocell architecture and network
A femtocell architecture and network are described. In one example the femtocell has a wireless access point having a first communications interface for wireless communications with a subscriber unit and a second communications interface for communications with a cellular radio communications system, and a secure gateway between the access point and the cellular system to secure communications between the access point and the cellular system. |
| US08638730B2 |
Apparatus and method for persistent allocation in a wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for persistent allocation in a wireless communication system are provided. An operation method of a Base Station (BS) includes determining if decoding information for one or more persistent allocations assigned to one or more corresponding Mobile Stations (MSs) is updated, if the decoding information is updated, generating a signaling message to signal the update of the decoding information, and transmitting the signaling message through a DL MAP. The signaling message includes an R_CID and ACID associated with at least one persistent allocation to which the updated decoding information is to be applied. |
| US08638729B2 |
Providing improved scheduling request signaling with ACK/NACK or CQI
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the invention there is a method, executable computer program, and apparatus for determining that an acknowledgment is to be sent, and for the case where there is also a scheduling request to be sent, combining the acknowledgment with the scheduling request on a scheduling resource, else placing the acknowledgment in another resource. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the invention there is a method, executable computer program, and apparatus for receiving information on a scheduling resource, and determining that the information received on the scheduling resource includes an acknowledgment. Further, in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the invention there is a method, executable computer program, and apparatus for determining that a scheduling request resource and at least one other resource are reserved for a user equipment in a same sub-frame, and based on whether a scheduling request is desired to be transmitted by the user equipment, placing at least one of an acknowledgment/negative acknowledgement and a channel quality indicator that is desired to be transmitted by the user equipment in one of the resources and leaving at least one other resource unused. |
| US08638724B1 |
Machine-to-machine traffic indicator
A communication system for operating a wireless communication network to manage machine-to-machine communications comprises a communication transceiver system and a communication processing system. The communication transceiver system is configured to wirelessly receive a data packet having a packet header, wherein the packet header includes a machine-to-machine communication indicator representing that a machine-to-machine communication in the packet payload is originated and consumed by machines and not human operators. The communication processing system is configured to determine at least one wireless network parameter indicating a state of the wireless communication network, and process the machine-to-machine communication indicator and the wireless network parameter to determine whether to transfer or drop the data packet. The communication transceiver system is configured to transfer the data packet if the communication processing system determines to transfer the data packet, and not transfer the data packet if the communication processing system determines not to transfer the data packet. |
| US08638723B2 |
MAC and RLC architecture and procedures to enable reception from multiple transmission points
A method for use in a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU) for two-stage reordering of received protocol data units (PDUs). The method comprising receiving PDUs from Node-Bs, wherein each of the received PDUs has a transmission sequence number (TSN), reordering the received PDUs from Node-Bs using the TSN in a MAC layer in different reordering queues, delivering the received PDUs from reordering queues to one logical channel in the RLC layer, reordering the received PDUs in the RLC layer based on a sequence number (SN), starting a timer when at least a RLC PDU is missing based on SN of the RLC PDU, and transmitting a status report indicating a missing RLC PDU based on SN of the RLC PDU if the timer expires, wherein transmission of the status report is delayed if a RLC PDU is missing based on SN of the RLC PDU and the timer is running. |
| US08638722B2 |
Method and arrangement in a mobile communications network
A method of operating a network node comprising one or more transmit antennas that are associated with a plurality of antenna ports includes transmitting a first user-equipment-(UE-) specific reference signal on a first antenna port and reusing the first UE-specific reference signal to transmit a second UE-specific reference signal on one of the first antenna port and a second antenna port. The second UE-specific reference signal is orthogonal to the first UE-specific reference signal. |
| US08638720B2 |
Multi-tiered detection of a geofence
Methods, program products, and systems for multi-tier detection of a geofence are disclosed. In general, in one aspect, a mobile device can be configured to perform a task when the mobile device enters a geographic region. The mobile device can monitor a current location using a multi-tiered approach. A baseband subsystem can monitor a coarse location of the mobile device using a CDMA system identifier, a CDMA network identifier, a CDMA zone identifier, or a CDMA base station identifier, in that order, as the mobile device moves closer to the geographic region. The baseband subsystem can notify an application subsystem when the mobile device is in a cell that intersects the geographic region. The application subsystem can perform the task upon notification. |
| US08638714B2 |
Fast channel switching in a multimedia broadcast system
A wireless broadcast system is disclosed. The wireless broadcast system includes a transmitter for broadcasting to a wireless communications device. The transmitter receives a plurality of streams on a logical channel, wherein one of the streams contains signaling. The transmitter arranges the streams such that the stream containing the signaling is broadcast after the other streams on the logical channel. The wireless communications device receives the streams broadcast on a logical channel broadcast in a frame, and acquires the logical channel during the broadcast of the frame in response to a prompt received during the broadcast of the same frame. |
| US08638713B2 |
Non-intrusive in-session QoS parameter modification method
Wireless network nodes are configured to transmit a request to update the quality of service associated with an existing radio access bearer. In response to the request, the radio access bearer is updated without tearing down the established radio access bearer. Some applications can be associated with one or more quality of service indicia, so that as service demands change in use of a single application, requests for quality of service updates can be transmitted by, for example, a mobile station or other network nodes. Updates can be initiated by other user equipment or by network nodes such as gateway GPRS support nodes. Service interruptions can be reduced by preserving a radio access bearer (RAB), which is particularly useful for a stationary mobile station that continues to communicate with the same serving GPRS support node. |
| US08638707B2 |
Method for supporting quality of multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) in mobile communications system and terminal thereof
In a wireless mobile communications system, a method of supporting quality of Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) while using minimum possible radio resource(s) of a cell. A method of providing a multimedia multicast broadcast service (MBMS) in a wireless communications system that may include: transmitting a feedback configuration parameter to at least one terminal that is subscribed in a MBMS service; transmitting a MBMS service data to the at least one terminal; and receiving feedback information from the at lest one terminal that uses the feedback configuration parameter for a transmission of the feedback information. |
| US08638704B2 |
Sleep mode power saving in a wireless communication device
Embodiments of methods for optimizing power savings in a wireless device by maintaining sleep in sub-frames of an extended Listen Window, in an I.E.E.E. 802.16m communication system. In one embodiment, the Listen Window is extended into the Sleep Window, wherein at least one sub-frame remains designated for sleep. The power savings may be used when HARQ retransmissions are scheduled or for VoIP transmissions and so forth. |
| US08638702B2 |
Method and system for time based WLAN scanning
Certain aspects of a method and system for time based wireless local area network (WLAN) scanning may include controlling scanning of a plurality of wireless access points in one or more WLANs by a WLAN station based on one or more factors comprising power consumed by the WLAN station based on the scanning, and/or a priority level of one or more media packets to be handled by the WLAN station. The information may be acquired for one or more of the plurality of wireless access points in one or more WLANs during the controlled scanning. |
| US08638699B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting the large service data unit (SDU)
Systems and methodologies are described that segment or concatenate radio link control (RLC) service data units (SDUs) into RLC protocol data units (PDUs). In accordance with various aspects set forth herein, systems and/or methods are provided that receive a first RLC SDU, partition the first RLC SDU into a first RLC PDU and a second RLC PDU, set a length indicator (LI) field associated with the second RLC PDU to indicate the size of information contained in the second RLC PDU, concatenate the second RLC PDU with a third RLC PDU associated with a second RLC SDU to form a concatenated RLC PDU, and dispatch the first RLC PDU, the concatenated RLC PDU, and a fourth RLC PDU associated with the second RLC SDU. |
| US08638697B2 |
Method and arrangement in a telecommunication system
A radio base station generates and assigns a different DL/UL transmission pattern to each terminal of a set of mobile terminals that are mutually unique patterns which allow each terminal to receive downlink system information thereon. |
| US08638695B2 |
Tree-guided distributed link state routing method
A routing method of a wireless communication system is provided implementing advantageous features of both the tree routing and the link state routing. In the routing method, the system generates an adaptive tree table which defines a network in a tree structure of at least one branch with at least one node and each node generates a link state table which includes information on neighbor nodes, such that the packets are routed on the basis of the adaptive tree table and the link state table. Advantageous mechanisms of the tree routing and the link state routing are combined, thereby it is possible to eliminate most single point of failures of conventional tree routing and provide shorter paths compared with conventional tree routing. |
| US08638692B2 |
System and method for end-to-end automatic configuration of network elements using a link-level protocol
A system and method for end-to-end automatic configuration of network elements using a link-level protocol. Network elements can be auto-configured through the propagation of configuration information. Configuration information is propagated using ports that have defined port roles that enable automatic propagation of configuration information. |
| US08638689B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication parameter configuration method thereof
A communication apparatus functioning as a master device denies participation by new communication apparatuses in a network in communication parameter configuration mode based on participation statuses of communication apparatuses functioning as slave devices in the network. The communication apparatus functioning as a master device establishes the network in communication parameter configuration mode between the communication apparatuses participating in the network, and configures communication parameters. |
| US08638684B2 |
Aperiodic channel state information request in wireless communication
A method, computer program product, and apparatus are provided in which a request for a channel state information (CSI) report is received on a component carrier of a plurality of component carriers. The request indicates a set of component carriers of the plurality of component carriers for which to provide the CSI report. In addition, a CSI report including feedback for each of the indicated component carriers in the set of component carriers is transmitted. A method, computer program product, and apparatus are provided in which a request for a CSI report on a component carrier of a plurality of component carriers is transmitted. The request indicates a set of component carriers of the plurality of component carriers for which to receive the CSI report. In addition, a CSI report including feedback for each of the indicated component carriers in the set of component carriers is received. |
| US08638678B2 |
Method of transmitting a video sequence to a remote terminal
A method is provided for transmission, by a server in a communication network, of a multimedia message, which includes a video sequence, to a remote terminal. The method includes detecting the video sequence in the message by the server, wherein the method includes the following additional steps: coding by the server of the video sequence in a scalable stream including a base layer and one or more refinement layers, when the video sequence is not already coded in such a stream, storage of at least one of the refinement layers in a storage server, and sending the base layer and of a link to recover the at least one duly stored refinement layer to the remote terminal. |
| US08638674B2 |
System and method for cloud computing
A system and method for creating, deploying, selecting and associating cloud computing services from many cloud vendors to effectuate a large-scale information technology data processing center implemented in a software only form. Services may be employed from any number of different service providers and user define policies provides for switching to or aggregating different service providers when necessary. Configurations can be created that allow for service provider selection based on user-selectable parameters such as cost, availability, performance and service level agreement terms. The system employs measurement, aggregation, reporting and decision support of system usage and costing, performance, Service level, feature set, to automate the construction, operation and ongoing management of software based cloud. Drag and drop, non list based UI for the construction and modification of clouds implemented and modeled in software. |
| US08638673B2 |
Communication path monitoring method and transmission apparatus
A first transmission apparatus and a second transmission apparatus recognize the working path and the back-up path group from communication paths between the two apparatuses. The first transmission apparatus selects a measurement path from the back-up path group and transmits a test signal via the measurement path to the second transmission apparatus. The second transmission apparatus uses the test signal to measure communication quality, records the measurement data, and transmits a test signal including the measurement data via the measurement path to the first transmission apparatus. The first transmission apparatus records the measurement data included in the test signal from the second transmission apparatus, uses the test signal to measure communication quality, and records that measurement data. The first transmission apparatus selects a new measurement path from the back-up path group and transmits a test signal including that measurement data via the new measurement path to the second transmission apparatus. |
| US08638671B2 |
System and method for testing wireless position locating
The present application describes a system and method for testing the position locating and navigation technology of a wireless client. To simulate the locations of the wireless access points in the array that are visible to the wireless client from the simulated location, the round-trip time between the wireless client and a wireless access point can be modified by delaying a response signal from the wireless access point in response to a signal received from the wireless client. The wireless client, knowing the location of the wireless access point and the expected response time of the wireless access point, interprets the delay in the response of the wireless access point as proportional to the distance of the wireless access point from the simulated location of the wireless client. |
| US08638658B2 |
Data transmission device
A data transmission device is provided including a monitoring unit 2 for monitoring a transmission time period of data and predicting a transmission timing with which the above-mentioned data will be transmitted next time from the transmission time period. The data transmission device delays the transmission timing of data in the data transmission device when the transmission timing of the data in the data transmission device is close to a transmission timing predicted by the monitoring unit 2, whereas commands a network I/F unit 1 to transmit the data in the data transmission device when the transmission timing of the data in the data transmission device is not close to the predicted transmission timing. |
| US08638651B2 |
Intelligent patching systems and methods using phantom mode control signals and related communications connectors
Communications connectors are provided that include a plurality of input ports, a plurality of output ports and a plurality of conductive paths. Each of the conductive paths connects a respective one of the input ports to a respective one of the output ports. The conductive paths are arranged as a plurality of differential pairs of conductive paths that are each configured to carry a differential signal. These connectors further include a control signal input circuit that is configured to capacitively couple a phantom mode control signal onto at least a first and a second of the differential pairs of conductive paths. |
| US08638649B1 |
Topographic feedforward system
A control mechanism may control the height and/or position of a read/write head configured to interact with a rotating information storage surface. A topography detection mechanism may detect topography of a side read/write track while the read/write head is interacting with a current read/write track. A memory may store the detected topography. The control mechanism may adjust the height of the read/write head based on the stored topography. The topography detection mechanism may compute the detected topography from gap measurements using a dynamic filter including a model of read/write head dynamics. The control mechanism may be a reactionless control mechanism configured to apply a counterforce to offset movements of the read/write head and/or a slider. |
| US08638648B2 |
Information erasing device and information erasing method
An information erasing device includes a recording section where recording is performed with regard to a disk-shaped recording medium, and a control section which controls the recording section so that the recording section overwrites a part of a erasing target sector so as not to overlap in a radius direction of the disk-shaped recording medium. |
| US08638646B2 |
Optical information processing method and optical information processing apparatus
An optical information processing method and apparatus performs a light irradiating and receiving step, a signal processing step, and an adjusting step of a spherical aberration and a focus offset on the basis of shift amount of first and second control devices and a performance evaluation value. The performance evaluation values for first, second, third and fourth points in an x and y coordinate system are detected, in which an x-coordinate is one of the shift amount of the first control device and the shift amount of the second control device and a y-coordinate is the other, the first point, second and third points having the same y-coordinate and different x-coordinates with each other, the fourth point being provided on a first straight line passing through the first point and being different from the first point. |
| US08638637B2 |
Memory controller with staggered request signal output
A memory controller having a time-staggered request signal output. A first timing signal is generated while a second timing signal is generated having a first phase difference relative to the first timing signal. An address value is transmitted in response to the first timing signal and a control value is transmitted in response to the second timing signal, the address value and control value constituting portions of a first memory access request. |
| US08638636B2 |
Word line decoder circuit apparatus and method
One embodiment of the technology is an apparatus, a memory integrated circuit. The memory integrated circuit has word line address decoding circuitry. The circuit allows selection of a single word line to have an erase voltage. A decoder circuit includes an inverter and logic. The inverter has an input, and an output controlling a word line to perform the erase operation. A voltage range of the input extends between a first voltage reference and a second voltage reference. Examples of voltages references are a voltage supply and a ground. In some embodiments, this wide voltage range results from the input being free of a threshold voltage drop from preceding circuitry limiting the voltage range of the input. The logic of the decoder is circuit is controlled by a word line address to determine a value of the input of the inverter during the erase operation. |
| US08638633B2 |
Apparatus and method for external charge pump on flash memory module
A memory module is provided. The memory module includes die packages and a charge pump that is external the die packages. Each die package includes a flash memory device, and each of the flash memory devices includes bit lines and memory cells coupled to the bit lines. The charge pump provides a charge pump voltage that is selectively provided to the bit lines in each flash memory device in each of the die packages. |
| US08638632B2 |
Access line management in a memory device
Memory devices and methods are disclosed, such as devices configured to store a number of access line biasing patterns to be applied during a memory device operation performed on a particular row of memory cells in the memory device. Memory devices are further configured to support modification of the stored bias patterns, providing flexibility in biasing access lines through changes to the bias patterns stored in the memory device. Methods and devices further facilitate performing memory device operations under multiple biasing conditions to evaluate and characterize the memory device by adjustment of the stored bias patterns without requiring an associated hardware change to the memory device. |
| US08638628B2 |
Maintenance of amplified signals using high-voltage-threshold transistors
Systems, apparatus, memory devices, sense amplifiers and methods are provided, such as a system that includes an input node, a first transistor having a gate that couples to the input node, and a second transistor having another gate that couples to the input node. In one or more embodiments, the second transistor has a greater activation voltage threshold than does the first transistor and the first transistor amplifies a signal that is present on the input node. In one such embodiment, after the first transistor amplifies the signal, the second transistor maintains the amplified signal on the input node while the first transistor is deactivated. |
| US08638627B2 |
Semiconductor memory device for minimizing mismatch of sense amplifier
A semiconductor memory device is provided. The semiconductor memory device includes a cross-coupled latch type sense amplifier and a buffer that prevents mismatch. The buffer is formed between PMOS transistors and NMOS transistors of the sense amplifier so that mismatch for transistors operating in pair can be minimized. |
| US08638623B2 |
Timing generation circuit, semiconductor storage device and timing generation method
According to an embodiment, a semiconductor storage device includes a memory cell array, a plurality of sense amplifiers and a timing generation circuit. The memory cell array includes a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines crossing the plurality of word lines, and a plurality of memory cells provided in intersection portions of the plurality of word lines and the plurality of bit lines. The plurality of sense amplifiers is configured to detect a signal level of the corresponding bit lines. The timing generation circuit includes a timing selection circuit configured to select a timing in a preset order from among timings in which each bit line signal in the plurality of bit lines changes. The timing generation circuit is configured to generate activation timing to activate the plurality of sense amplifiers based on the selected timing. |
| US08638622B2 |
Apparatus and method for receiving a differential data strobe signal
A differential data strobe receiver is provided which is configured to receive a differential data strobe signal at a first strobe input and a second strobe input, wherein transitions of the differential data strobe signal indicate sample points for an associated data signal. The differential data receiver is configured to identify the transitions of the differential strobe signal by differentially comparing values of the differential strobe signal received at the first strobe input and the second strobe input. The differential data strobe receiver comprises strobe gating circuitry configured to generate a strobe gating signal, wherein the associated data signal can only be sampled in dependence on the differential data strobe signal when the strobe gating signal is asserted and strobe input termination circuitry configured selectively to provide a first termination connection for the first strobe input and a second termination connection for the second strobe input. The differential data strobe receiver is configured, prior to receiving the differential data strobe signal in association with the associated data signal, to participate in an initial gate training process to determine a gating delay used to phase align the strobe gating signal with respect to the differential data strobe signal and the strobe input termination circuitry is configured to provide an asymmetric configuration of the first termination connection and the second termination connection during the initial gate training process. |
| US08638620B2 |
Random access memory for use in an emulation environment
A Random Access Memory (RAM) and method of using the same are disclosed. The RAM includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in columns and in rows with each memory cell coupled to at least one word line and at least one bit line. The RAM includes a plurality of switches with at least one of the switches coupled between two of the memory cells to allow data to be copied from one of the two memory cells to the other of the two memory cells. In another aspect, the two memory cells can be considered a dual bit cell that contains a copying mechanism. There are two interleaved memory planes, assembled from bit cells that contain two bits of information. One bit is the primary bit that corresponds to the normal RAM bit. The second bit is able to receive a copy and hold the primary value. When the copying mechanism is over, the two memory planes may act as two completely independent structures. |
| US08638615B2 |
Semiconductor storage device, host controlling the same, and memory system including the semiconductor storage device and the host
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device includes a memory cell array, a data latch group. The memory cell array comprises a plurality of memory cells. The data latch group holds a first address or a second address of the memory cell and data. The data latch group comprises a first data latch unit and a second data latch unit, the first data latch unit holds write data to be written to any of the memory cells or read data read from the memory cell array and the first address or the second address, while the second data latch unit holds second write data or read data. |
| US08638613B1 |
Flash memory
This disclosure describes techniques for using environmental variables to improve calibration of flash memory by adapting to changing threshold-voltage distributions. These techniques effectively increase the speed and/or accuracy at which flash memory can be written or read. |
| US08638604B1 |
Non-volatile memory devices having uniform error distributions among pages
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to non-volatile memory. A described technique includes monitoring read-back data from a group of memory cells that are programmable based on a group of programming voltages, each of the memory cells being configured to represent two or more bits by a single charge level, the two or more bits corresponding to two or more bit positions; determining estimated mean and standard deviation values of level distributions of the memory cells based on the read-back data; and adjusting one or more of the programming voltages based on the estimated mean and standard deviations of the level distribution such that differences among bit error rates of the bit positions are reduced. |
| US08638602B1 |
Background selection of voltage reference values for performing memory read operations
A storage subsystem implements a background process for selecting voltage reference values to use for reading data from a non-volatile memory array, such as an array of multi-level cell (MLC) flash memory. The process involves performing background read operations using specific sets of voltage reference values while monitoring the resulting bit error counts. The selected voltage reference values for specific pages or other blocks of the array are stored in a table. Read operations requested by a host system are executed using the corresponding voltage reference values specified by the table. |
| US08638601B1 |
Domain wall motion in perpendicularly magnetized wires having magnetic multilayers with engineered interfaces
Magnetic wires that include cobalt, nickel, and platinum layers show improved domain wall motion properties, when the domain walls are driven by pulses of electrical current. These wires exhibit perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, thereby supporting the propagation of narrow domain walls. The direction of motion of the domain walls can be influenced by the order in which the platinum and cobalt layers are arranged. |
| US08638598B1 |
Multi-bit resistance measurement
An example embodiment is a method for determining a binary value of a memory cell represented by an electrical resistance level of the memory cell. The method includes iteratively charging shunt capacitors having different capacitances until a selected shunt capacitor causes the voltage to decay through the memory cell to a reference voltage within a predetermined time range. A binary value of the most significant bits of the memory cell is determined based on the selected shunt capacitor. The selected shunt capacitor is then charged to a second voltage and the binary value of the least significant bits of the memory cell is determined based on a decay of the second voltage at the selected shunt capacitor through the memory cell. |
| US08638594B1 |
Integrated circuits with asymmetric transistors
Integrated circuits with memory elements are provided. A memory element may include a storage circuit coupled to data lines through access transistors. Access transistors may be used to read data from and write data into the storage circuit. An access transistor may have asymmetric source-drain resistances. The access transistor may have a first source-drain that is coupled to a data line and a second source-drain that is coupled to the storage circuit. The second source-drain may have a contact resistance that is greater than the contact resistance associated with the first source-drain. Access transistors with asymmetric source-drain resistances may have a first drive strength when passing a low signal and a second drive strength when passing a high signal to the storage circuit. The second drive strength may be less than the first drive strength. Access transistors with asymmetric drive strengths may be used to improve memory read/write performance. |
| US08638591B2 |
TFET based 4T memory devices
A four transistor (4T) memory device is provided. The device includes a first cell transistor and a second cell transistor, the first and second cell transistors coupled to each other and defining latch circuitry having at least one multi-stable node. The device further includes a first access transistor and a second access transistor, the first and second access transistors coupling the at least one multi-stable node to at least one bit-line. In the device, each of the first and second cell transistors and each of the first and second access transistors is a unidirectional field effect transistor configured for conducting current in a first direction and to be insubstantially incapable of conducting current in a second direction. |
| US08638584B2 |
Memory architectures and techniques to enhance throughput for cross-point arrays
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to semiconductors and memory technology, and more particularly, to systems, integrated circuits, and methods to implement memory architectures configured to enhance throughput for cross point arrays including memory elements, such as memory elements based on third dimensional memory technology. In at least some embodiments, an integrated circuit includes arrays that include memory elements being formed BEOL above a FEOL logic layer within a boundary in a plane parallel to a substrate, and array lines. Further, the integrated circuit includes array line decoders disposed in the logic layer within a region located coextensive with the boundary and between the substrate and the arrays. In some embodiments, the disposition of peripheral circuitry, such as the array line decoders, under the arrays can preserve or optimize die efficiency for throughput enhancement. |
| US08638583B2 |
Content addressable memory
An entry including multiple bits of unit cells each storing data bit is coupled to a match line. The match line is supplied with a charging current having a restricted current value smaller than a match line current flowing in a one-bit miss state in one entry, but larger than a match line current flowing in an all-bit match state in one entry. A precharge voltage level of a match line is restricted to a voltage level of half a power supply voltage or smaller. Power consumption in a search cycle of a content addressable memory can be reduced, and a search operation speed can be increased. |
| US08638580B2 |
Switching power converters and controllers having auxiliary power circuits
Switching device controllers, drive circuits, power converters and related methods are disclosed. One example controller for a switching device includes a drive circuit for controlling the switching device and an auxiliary circuit coupled to the drive circuit. The auxiliary circuit includes an input for receiving a waveform having alternating first and second intervals. The auxiliary circuit is configured to energize the drive circuit during the first intervals and de-energize the drive circuit during the second intervals. One example method of energizing and de-energizing a drive circuit for a switching device includes receiving a waveform having alternating first and second intervals, energizing the drive circuit during the first intervals, and de-energizing the drive circuit during the second intervals. |
| US08638578B2 |
Power converter including a charge pump employable in a power adapter
A power converter including a charge pump employable in a power adapter. In one embodiment, the charge pump includes a voltage divider with a first diode having a terminal coupled to a terminal of a first capacitor and a second diode having a terminal coupled to a terminal of a second capacitor and another terminal coupled to another terminal of the first capacitor. The charge pump also includes a third diode coupled across the second diode and the second capacitor, and a charge pump power switch coupled across the first capacitor and the second diode. |
| US08638577B2 |
Semiconductor device for DC-DC converter including high side and low side semiconductor switches
In a non-isolated DC/DC converter, a reference potential for a low-side pre-driver which drives a gate of a low-side MOSFET is applied from a portion except for a main circuit passing through a high-side MOSFET and the low-side MOSFET so that a parasitic inductance between a source of the low-side MOSFET and the pre-driver is increased without increasing the sum of parasitic inductances in the main circuit and negative potential driving of the gate of the low-side MOSFET can be performed and a self turn-on phenomenon can be prevented without adding any member and changing drive system. |
| US08638574B2 |
Semiconductor control device for a switching regulator and a switching regulator using the semiconductor control device
A semiconductor control device can include a current detection signal input terminal, a feedback signal input terminal, a driving signal output terminal and a voltage adjusting circuit that delivers a voltage similar to a voltage of a primary winding of the flyback transformer to the current detection signal input terminal. The device can also include an oscillator circuit connected to the feedback signal input terminal; a one-shot circuit connected to the oscillator circuit, an RS flip-flop circuit that generates a driving signal to be delivered to the driving signal output terminal. A bottom detection section can receive a one-shot signal from the one-shot circuit, the current detection signal, and an output signal from the RS flip-flop circuit, and detect a bottom of the current detection signal to set the RS flip-flop circuit based on the detected bottom detection signal. |
| US08638571B2 |
Controller for a resonant power converter
This invention relates to circuits and methods for controlling a resonant power converter. Control of the power converter may comprise comparing an output voltage or current of the converter to at least one reference voltage or current; enabling primary side switching signals based on a first selected result of the comparison; and disabling primary side switching signals based on a second selected result of the comparison; wherein a primary side switching signal for each primary side switch includes at least one off-on-off transition. |
| US08638570B2 |
EMI shield apparatus and electronic device with same
An electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield apparatus includes a shell, a hub, a shield member, a partition plate, a resilient member, and a cover. The hub is rotatably mounted within the shell. The shield member is wrapped around the hub. The partition plate is fastened to and rotatable together with the hub. The cover covered on an open end of the shell. The resilient member is connected between the partition plate and the cover to drive the hub to rotate to reel the shield member. The shield member is made of EMI shield material. |
| US08638565B2 |
Arrangement of optoelectronic components
A method for producing an arrangement of optoelectronic components (10) is specified, comprising the following steps: producing at least two fixing regions (2) on a first connection carrier (1); introducing solder material (3) into the fixing regions (2); applying a second connection carrier (4) to the fixing regions (2); and soldering the second connection carrier (4) onto the first connection carrier (1) with the solder material (3) in the fixing regions (2). |
| US08638561B2 |
Motor control center unit withdraw with door closed
An electrical enclosure wherein an electrical component can be moved between various positions (e.g., connected, disconnected, test, etc.) without opening an enclosure door. The electrical enclosure supports a component for movement between a withdrawn position, a test position, and an inserted position. A handle is accessible by an operator from an exterior of the enclosure and is configured to move the component between the respective positions without having to open the enclosure. The handle is integral with the enclosure and thus an operator needs no special tool or other device to effect movement of the electrical component between its respective positions. |
| US08638560B2 |
Sliding apparatus for double slide-type portable communication device having locking unit
A sliding apparatus for a dual slide-type portable communication device, which includes a locking unit selectively formed in sliding members and configured to restrict movement of a first sliding member in a direction substantially perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of a body housing when the first sliding member is slid in a lengthwise direction of the body housing and to restrict movement of the first and second sliding members when the first and second sliding members are slid in a direction substantially perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the body housing. The body housing and a sliding housing configured to be slid on the body housing in a lengthwise direction of the body housing or in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the body housing. |
| US08638557B2 |
Mobile electronic device holder
A mobile electronic device holder includes an upper holder frame shell, a bottom holder frame shell attached to the bottom side of the upper holder frame shell, three first clamping members respectively slidably mounted in respective sliding ways of the bottom holder frame shell for holding a mobile electronic device, a gear wheel rotatable to move the first clamping members in and out of the upper and bottom holder frame shells, a retractable second clamping member slidably mounted in one sliding way of the bottom holder frame shell and adjustable to one of a series of length. |
| US08638555B2 |
Protective cover for laptop computer
An exterior cover for a laptop computer having a display portion and a keyboard portion is disclosed. The exterior cover includes a first rigid planar element for placement on an outside surface of the display portion. The first rigid planar element includes a raised edge along a perimeter of the first rigid planar element, wherein the raised edge extends toward the display portion. The first rigid planar element further includes a plurality of tabs located on the raised edge, wherein each tab extends from the raised edge for gripping the display portion. The exterior cover further includes a second rigid planar element for placement on an outside surface of the keyboard portion. The second rigid planar element includes a raised edge extending toward the keyboard portion. The second rigid planar element further includes a plurality of tabs for gripping the keyboard portion. |
| US08638550B2 |
Keyed media drive rails
A media drive tray can include a front plate; a first rail extending from and perpendicular to the front plate where the first rail includes features for securing the first rail to a media drive and a first rail height; and a second rail extending from and perpendicular to the front plate, parallel to the first rail, where the second rail includes features for securing the second rail to a media drive and a second rail height that differs from the first rail height. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US08638549B2 |
Electronic device display module
Electronic devices may have housings. A housing may contain a display on its front face and a rear plate such as a plate formed from glass on its rear face. A peripheral housing member may surround the display and rear plate. An antenna may be formed in the peripheral housing member. The rear plate may be formed from laminated layers including a light guide layer. Device hinges may include hinge structures that are integral to the peripheral housing member. A logo may be formed by coating the rear plate with a patterned masking layer. Display structures for the display and the rear plate may be mounted to opposing sides of a shelf portion of the peripheral housing member. The rear plate may be formed from electrochromic glass and may cover photovoltaic cells and touch sensors. Driver boards may be mounted within a clutch barrel perpendicular to the display. |
| US08638546B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes: a first casing; a second casing; a hinge section which includes a first turning shaft provided at one end portion of the first casing and a second turning shaft provided at one end portion of the second casing and connects the first and second casings so as to be able to be opened or closed in a range from a folded state to a back-to-back state through the first and second turning shafts; a display section provided on one face of the second casing; and a displacement section which displaces the display section to the other end side of the second casing in the folded state and the back-to-back state of the first and second casings and displaces the display section to one end side of the second casing in a spread state of the first and second casings. |
| US08638543B2 |
Laminated chip electronic component, board for mounting the same, and packing unit thereof
A laminated chip electronic component includes: a ceramic body including internal electrodes and dielectric layers; first and second external electrodes formed to cover both end portions of the ceramic body in a length direction; an active layer in which the internal electrodes are disposed in an opposing manner, while having the dielectric layers interposed therebetween, to form capacitance; upper and lower cover layers formed on upper and lower portions of the active layer in a thickness direction, the lower cover layer having a thickness greater than that of the upper cover layer; and additional electrode layers disposed irrespective of a formation of capacitance within the lower cover layer. |
| US08638542B2 |
Capacitor containing a large number of filamentous conductors and method of manufacturing the same
A capacitor includes a dielectric substrate and a large number of filamentous conductors formed to penetrate through the dielectric substrate in a thickness direction thereof. An electrode is connected to only respective one ends of a plurality of filamentous conductors constituting one of groups each composed of a plurality of filamentous conductors. The electrode is disposed in at least one position on each of both surfaces of the dielectric substrate, or in at least two positions on one of the surfaces. Further, an insulating layer is formed on each of both surfaces of the dielectric substrate so as to cover regions between the electrodes, and a conductor layer is formed on the corresponding insulating layer integrally with a desired number of electrodes. |
| US08638541B2 |
Input device
An input device includes a movable electrode and a capacitance detection electrode provided on the upper and lower sides of the resin film substrate, respectively. The movable electrode includes a moving section, and an immobile section. The moving section includes a protrusion. The end of the protrusion comes in contact with the upper side of the resin film substrate in an initial state, or is bonded to the upper side of the resin film substrate. The protrusion has a curved shape so that the side surface of the protrusion is depressed relative to a straight line that connects the end and the base of the protrusion having an approximately trapezoidal cross-sectional shape, or at least one step is formed on the side surface of the protrusion, and the width of the protrusion increases stepwise from the end to the base of the protrusion. |
| US08638539B2 |
Method and apparatus for isolating high voltage power control elements
The devices and methods described below provide for a high voltage control circuits using commercial lower voltage, and lower cost, relays. A low voltage control system using commercial switching relays is used to control and switch an isolated low voltage power supply through an isolation layer. The isolated low voltage power supply is used to drive commercial switching relays that control the high voltage power applied to the high voltage load. Adding the isolated low voltage power supply controlled through an isolation layer enables the use of commercial low voltage components to switch high voltage power such as 347VAC without violating Underwriters Laboratories spacing or testing requirements. |
| US08638538B2 |
Low energy electromagnetic relay
A low energy electromagnetic relay and method of reducing power consumption in electromagnetic relays. The electromagnetic relay includes an electrical coil having a first end connected to a first contact and a second end connected to first side of a normally closed switch, a second side of the switch connected to a second contact; a resistor connected between the first end of the coil and the second contact; and an armature configured to move to an actuated position and open the first switch when power is applied across the first and the second contacts. |
| US08638537B2 |
Line protection systems
A line protection system described herein provides reliable electro-mechanical connections between system components, reduces mechanical stresses on a disconnector, assures more effective disconnection of a failed arrestor, and is lower in cost than existing systems. The line protection system includes a surge arrestor, a disconnector coupled to the surge arrestor, and a line lead coupled to the disconnector. The line lead generally is a high strength cable and/or the line protection system generally does not include a shunt bypass assembly. Upon exposure to a high voltage condition, the disconnector actuates and separates the line lead from the system. |
| US08638536B2 |
Electrostatic discharge conducting pathway having a noise filter spark gap
A printed circuit board includes a primary region, a secondary region and an isolation region disposed between the primary region and the secondary region to galvanically isolate the primary region from the secondary region. The primary region is to be coupled to an AC source. The primary region also includes an electrostatic discharge (ESD) conducting pathway to redirect current to the AC source that crosses the isolation region. A spark gap is included in the ESD conducting pathway. |
| US08638534B2 |
Load driving device
A load driving device according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes: an output transistor coupled between a first power supply line and an output terminal; the output terminal being configured to be coupled with a load; a driver circuit that controls conduction/non-conduction of the output transistor; a compensation transistor that is coupled between the output terminal and a second power supply line, and becomes conductive when the driver circuit renders the output transistor non-conductive and when a potential of the second power supply line reaches a predetermined value or greater, to maintain a non-conduction state of the output transistor; and a first resistor coupled between the second power supply line and a back gate of the compensation transistor. |
| US08638530B1 |
Current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor having a top shield with an antiparallel structure
A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane magnetoresistive sensor structure includes at least an improved top shield structure and optionally also a similar bottom shield structure. The top shield structure includes an antiparallel structure (APS) of two ferromagnetic films and a nonmagnetic antiparallel coupling (APC) film between them. The APC film induces antiferromagnetic (AF) coupling between the two ferromagnetic films so that they have their respective magnetizations oriented antiparallel. An important aspect of the APS is that there is no antiferromagnetic layer adjacent the upper ferromagnetic film, so that the upper ferromagnetic film does not have its magnetization pinned by an antiferromagnetic layer. An electroplated shield layer is formed above the APS. A nonmagnetic decoupling layer is located between the APS and the electroplated shield layer to prevent domain wall movement in the electroplated shield from transferring to the ferromagnetic layers in the APS and thus possibly induce noise in the sensor. |
| US08638527B2 |
Signaling method and apparatus for write assist of high coercivity media using integrated half coil
A signaling method and apparatus for providing two write assist components for perpendicular thin film heads writing to high coercivity media is disclosed. The two components provided by the present invention include a media writing assist component and a head switching assist component. Circuit wiring configurations and waveforms for driving an auxiliary half coil are disclosed. These include configurations for connecting the auxiliary half coil in parallel with the main data coil, or connecting the auxiliary half coil to the thermal flight control system. Provision for both common mode signals as well as differential mode signals are disclosed. RF sinusoidal waveforms between 1 and 5 GHz have been found suitable for head switching assist functions for either symmetric current feed and common mode current configuration, or asymmetric current feed and differential mode current configuration. RF sinusoidal waveforms between 10 and 50 GHz have been found suitable for media writing assist functions for either asymmetric or symmetric current feed and differential mode configuration. Data derived signals obtained by passing the data pulse train though high pass filtration has been found to provide both head switching assist and media writing assist functionality. Data derived signals can be used with or without the RF signals. |
| US08638524B2 |
Helium filled sealed HDD using gas flow diversion filtration to improve particle cleanup
Approaches for a hard-disk drive (HDD) comprised within a sealed enclosure that is filled with a substantially helium gas are provided. The HDD may include a shroud that surrounds a majority of a perimeter of a magnetic-recording disk. The HDD may also include an upstream spoiler having one or more wings. The shape of the upstream spoiler diverts a flow of the substantially helium gas that circulates when the magnetic-recording disk is rotating from a magnetic-recording head to a plenum chamber. The plenum chamber has a mouth that allows a portion of the circulating flow of substantially helium gas to flow therein. The mouth of the plenum chamber is a gap in the shroud that is prior to the upstream spoiler in the circulating flow of the substantially helium gas. A portion of the plenum chamber is formed using a particle filter opposing the gap. |
| US08638521B2 |
Shingled recording apparatus and method capable of detecting drifted-off writing
An information recording device includes a magnetic disk, a recording control module, a detection module, and a rewrite control module. Tracks are defined on the magnetic disk, each track includes servo regions including position information and data regions. The recording control module performs a control so that information is recorded on a first track by a recording method where recording is performed with adjacent tracks overlapped with each other. The detection module detects, based on position information acquired from a first servo region, whether a shift recording is performed so as to be shifted from a reference in a radial direction on the first track. The rewrite control module performs, when the shift recording is detected, a control so that information is re-recorded in a data region between a first servo region and a second servo region that precedes the first servo region. |
| US08638520B2 |
Magnetic recording apparatus and data reading method
A magnetic recording apparatus includes: a magnetic disk; a drive device; a magnetic disk control device; a buffer; and a flag management table. The buffer reads data of a specific block unit from a designated read range on the magnetic disk. The flag management table stores a pointer indicating the read location of the buffer for data of each of the block units and a management flag for the pointer. The magnetic disk control device sets the management flag of the pointer corresponding to a given block unit when the data of the given block unit is read to the buffer. |
| US08638517B2 |
Methodology for equalizing systemic latencies in television reception in connection with games of skill played in connection with live television programming
A method of and system for handling latency issues encountered in producing real-time entertainment such as games of skill synchronized with live or taped televised events is described herein. There are multiple situations that are dealt with regarding latencies in receiving a television signal with respect to real-time entertainment based on the unfolding games played along with the telecasts. Systemic delays, arbitrarily imposed delays of a broadcast signal and variances in the precise broadcast times of taped television programs have to be equalized so as to provide fair entertainment. |
| US08638515B2 |
Writing data to a storage medium
A method includes, in at least one aspect, receiving a data set to be written onto a medium, identifying an index associated with the medium, identifying a first sector and a second sector of the medium, the first sector preceding the second sector, generating an error code for the data set based on the index and the first sector, and writing at least one of the data set or the generated error code into the second sector. |
| US08638513B1 |
Method and system for compensating for adjacent tracks during reading of data
A method for reading a current track of data from a storage device includes using a first read head to read the current track of data and at least a first portion of at least one adjacent track of data, using at least a second read head to read at least a portion of the current track of data and at least a second portion of the at least one adjacent track of data, and decoding the data read from the current track, including processing signals from the first read head and the at least a second read head, to at least partly remove, from the signal from the first read head, contributions from the first portion of the at least one adjacent track of data. The decoding may include deriving expressions relating contributions from the current and adjacent tracks, and solving the expressions using least-mean-square analysis. |
| US08638512B1 |
Accumulator for non-return to zero (NRZ) linear feedback shift register (LFSR) in controller for disk drive
A disk controller for a hard disk drive includes a disk formatter interfaced via an NRZ bus to a read channel for the disk. The disk formatter includes an LFSR accumulator coupled to the NRZ bus, as well as an LSFR generator that generates synthetic test data for the disk formatter. Under control of a test flag which signifies a test mode, the LSFR generator generates synthetic test data, which is used by the disk formatter to drive the NRZ bus. The LSFR accumulator accumulates data on the NRZ bus, together with data on servo information and sector information. An interface is provided through which the accumulated information is provided to test equipment, for offline analysis of the accumulated information, so as to confirm proper operation of the disk subsystem and/or to detect failures therein. |
| US08638509B2 |
Optical camera alignment
A camera alignment system that can enable alignment in at least one of three planes and about an axis of at least one of the planes. An alignment mount can mate to a camera and lens. The alignment mount can comprise a mechanism to adjust the camera relative to the lens to that an image plane of the camera aligns with an image plane of the lens in a predetermined orientation. One predetermined orientation can be that the image plane of the camera being parallel to the image plane of the lens. |
| US08638501B2 |
Liquid meniscus lens with convex torus-segment meniscus wall
The present invention relates generally to a liquid meniscus lens with a meniscus wall. Some specific embodiments include a liquid meniscus lens with a meniscus wall essentially in the shape of a conical frustum with at least a portion of the conical frustum convex toward the optical axis. Embodiments may also include a lens of suitable size and shape for inclusion in a contact lens. |
| US08638500B2 |
Two-stage optical object molding using pre-final form
A lens, such as a lens for use in a wafer-level camera, is made by forming a polymeric material with at least one master to form a pre-final lens. The pre-final lens forms a majority of a final volume of the lens. The pre-final lens is allowed to harden, during which it may sag or shrink. An aliquot of polymeric material is added to the lens and formed with the same master with a spacer, or with a second master, to form a first surface layer that provides correction between the pre-final lens shape and a final desired lens shape. In an embodiment, the surface layer has similar or identical index of refraction to the pre-final lens. In an embodiment the lens is formed on a substrate. In an embodiment, a send master, or master pair, are used to form a lens having upper and lower curvature, with a second aliquot of polymeric material forming a second surface layer on a surface of the lens opposite to the first surface layer. |
| US08638498B2 |
Eyebox adjustment for interpupillary distance
In embodiments of eyebox adjustment for interpupillary distance, a first optical lens receives light of an image from a display optic at a projected orientation of the light, and the first optical lens deviates the light of the image by a deviation angle from the projected orientation of the light. A second optical lens receives the light of the image from the first optical lens at the deviation angle, and the second optical lens alters the deviated light of the image back to the projected orientation of the light for viewing the image. Left and right eyeboxes align with respective left and right eyes that view the image, and a distance between the left and right eyeboxes approximately correlates to an interpupillary distance between the left and right eyes. The light of the image can be laterally shifted to increase or decrease the distance between the left and right eyeboxes. |
| US08638497B2 |
Light source for stereoscopic display
A light source for a stereoscopic display device that includes a plurality of lights arranged in parallel, each light corresponding to a pair of displays including at least a first display of a first image, and a second display of a second image, wherein the lights form a row in a horizontal direction arranged essentially in the same interval spacing and parallel to each other, with the lights in each row arranged with vertical stacked pitch patterns that differ by at least between the upper and lower positions. |
| US08638493B2 |
Optical system for signal amplification using a multimode fiber
An optical coupler for coupling optical-pump power into a multimode fiber configured to transport an optical space-division-multiplexed (SDM) signal, the coupling being performed in a manner that enables amplification of the SDM signal in the multimode fiber via a stimulated-emission process or a stimulated Raman-scattering process. The optical coupler can be a part of an optical transmitter configured for co-directional pumping, an optical receiver configured for contra-directional pumping, or a relay station disposed within an optical communication link and configured for either type of pumping. The optical coupler can advantageously be used, e.g., to offset the different degrees of attenuation to which the SDM-signal components corresponding to different guided modes of the multimode fiber are subjected to therein. |
| US08638492B2 |
Display cell, display apparatus and method for making same
In an electrophoretic display device comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having a cell area containing a plurality of charged pigment particles dispersed between two opposite electrodes, a semiconducting passivation layer is provided on one or both of the two opposite electrodes. The semiconducting passivation layer can be made of MOx/y, MSx/y, or MNx/y where M is a metal or semiconductor such as Al, Sn, Zn, Si, Ge, Ni, Ti or Cd; x is a positive integer; and y is independently a non-zero positive integer. The semiconducting passivation layer may have a doped Si, ZnOx/y, ZnSx/y, CdSx/y and TiOx/y or a III-V type semiconducting material. The semiconducting passivation layer can be doped with a dopant which can be an n-type doner or a p-type acceptor, the n-type doner is N, P, As or F; and the p-type acceptor is B, Al, Ga, In, Be, Mg or Ca. |
| US08638488B2 |
Vehicular rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating these elements
The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same. |
| US08638483B2 |
Image display device and head-mounted display
A video image display device (1) is provided with an ocular optical system (12) that guides video image light from a display element (11) to the pupil of an observer through an ocular prism (21) and at the same time guides ambient light to the pupil of the observer through the ocular prism (21). The eyepiece optical system (12) has reflection planes set in the ocular prism (21) that are provided with three or more planes to fold down three or more times an optical path for the video image light from the display element (11), wherein an HOE (23) is formed on at least one plane of the reflection planes. The video image display device (1) satisfies a conditional equation that properly prescribes the relationship between an incident range of the video image light incident on the HOE (23) formed plane in the ocular prism (21) and a display screen size of the display element (11). Thus, the video image display device (1) can widely secure both a video image observation area and a see-through area with a small compact structure. |
| US08638477B2 |
Image processing apparatus, control method of image processing apparatus and program
An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit, a conveyance unit configured to convey a document, a reading unit configured to read an image of the document line by line in a main scanning direction, a check unit configured to check a free space of the storage unit, a detection unit configured to generate detection processing data for determining a position of a portion of the image in the main scanning direction of the reading unit where the image cannot be read correctly and to detect the position using the detection processing data, both in response to the free space of the storage unit being sufficient to store the detection processing data, and a correction unit configured to correct a pixel value of the portion corresponding to the position detected by the detection unit in the image read by the reading unit. |
| US08638475B2 |
Recreating step and repeat geometrical data
A method for extracting step and repeat data from a halftone printing job (200). De-screening a halftone image data on a computer (104) to create a de-screened image. The de-screening (512) is performed on a halftone image data stored in a computer storage (116). The halftone image data contains at least one step and repeat element (208). The de-screened image is scanned (516) to identify unique pixel segments (520). All instances of the found unique pixel segments are used to reconstruct (524) the step and repeat data previously used to create the halftone printing job (200). |
| US08638469B2 |
Printing apparatus and printing method
A printing apparatus which prints an image on a medium, including a head which discharges ink droplets from nozzles, wherein the medium is transparent, two pieces of image data are prepared, one piece of image data is selected from the two pieces of image data to set the selected image data to one of a first image and a second image, the other piece of image data is set to the other of the first image and the second image, the image data set to the first image is subjected to a processing to be mirror image data, and the head prints the mirror image of the first image on the medium, prints a background image on the mirror image of the first image, and prints a real image of the second image on the background image. |
| US08638463B2 |
Communication controlling method, computer readable medium, and communication device
A method to control a communication device to communicate with a first external device in a first communication method and with a second external device in a second communication method is provided. The method includes steps of determining prior to communicating in the first communication method whether the communication device is under an ongoing communication session in the second communication method, executing one of switching the communication methods in the communication device from the second communication method to the first communication method when the communication device is not under any ongoing communication session in the second communication method and maintaining the second communication method set in the communication device when the communication device is under an ongoing communication session, and communicating with the first external device in the first communication method after switching the communication methods from the second communication method to the first communication method. |
| US08638462B2 |
Image display apparatus and method of controlling the same
In an image display apparatus, when image data is transferred from an LCD controller to an LCD through a transmission cable having a plurality of signal lines and is displayed on a screen, the image data is divided sequentially by a plurality of lines from a front line so as to correspond to the number of signal lines and allocates the divided image data to the signal lines such that image data of which signal change is larger is allocated to a signal line which is closer to the ground line to transfer the image data. Therefore, the entire radiation noise which is generated can be reduced while maintaining quality of signals. |
| US08638451B2 |
System for determining a location on a 2D surface or in a 3D volume
A system for determining a location on a 2D surface or in a 3D volume. The system includes a probe and a tracker. The probe includes a marker, an indicator, and a reflective surface, wherein the probe is configured so the reflective surface forms a virtual image of the marker having an apparent location coincident to a location of the indicator. The tracker configured to measure the apparent location of the virtual image of the marker. |
| US08638450B2 |
Methods and systems for realizing reduced complexity in three-dimensional digitizer systems
A simplified system and method for synchronizing a three dimensional digitizers is disclosed. Various three dimensional digitizers utilize detected light sequences received from a probe as a synchronization signal negating the need for complex synchronization circuitry and communication signals. One embodiment utilizes no transmitted synchronization signal, but relies on embedded, high-stability clocks to maintain synchronization after initial one-time synchronization of the clocks. In this manner the design of the three dimensional digitizer may be simplified. |
| US08638444B2 |
Sensor array configuration for swept-wavelength interferometric-based sensing systems
A method, system and apparatus for obtaining a parameter of interest relating to a wellbore is disclosed. A fiber optic cable having a plurality of sensors is disposed in the wellbore, wherein the plurality of sensors have reflectivity values configured to provide improved signal-to-noise ratio compared to signal-to-noise ratio of a plurality of sensors having substantially same reflectivity values. Light is propagated into the fiber optic cable from a light source and signals are received at a detector from the plurality of sensors in response to interaction of the propagated light with the plurality of sensors. A processor may be used to obtain the parameter of interest from the received signals. The fiber optic cable may be coupled to a member in the wellbore, wherein the parameter of interest is related to the member. |
| US08638440B1 |
Plasmonic transparent conducting metal oxide nanoparticles and films for optical sensing applications
The disclosure relates to a method of detecting a change in a chemical composition by contacting a doped oxide material with a monitored stream, illuminating the doped oxide material with incident light, collecting exiting light, monitoring an optical signal based on a comparison of the incident light and the exiting light, and detecting a shift in the optical signal. The doped metal oxide has a carrier concentration of at least 1018/cm3, a bandgap of at least 2 eV, and an electronic conductivity of at least 101 S/cm, where parameters are specified at a temperature of 25° C. The optical response of the doped oxide materials results from the high carrier concentration of the doped metal oxide, and the resulting impact of changing gas atmospheres on that relatively high carrier concentration. These changes in effective carrier densities of conducting metal oxide nanoparticles are postulated to be responsible for the change in measured optical absorption associated with free carriers. Exemplary doped metal oxides include but are not limited to Al-doped ZnO, Sn-doped In2O3, Nb-doped TiO2, and F-doped SnO2. |
| US08638431B2 |
Fiber probe based microfludic raman spectroscopy
A microfluidic device comprising at least one microfluidic channel with an input and an output for allowing fluid flow; and at least one Raman fiber based probe having an excitation fiber probe and/or a collection fiber probe positioned so that one end of the probe is in the microfluidic channel. |
| US08638430B2 |
Method for defect determination in fine concave-convex pattern and method for defect determination on patterned medium
In the inspection of a defect in a fine concave-convex pattern, a spectral waveform of a detection area of an inspection object is detected, area determination as to which area section determined by a pattern type of the inspection object the detection area belongs to is performed, a feature calculation equation and a determination index value which correspond to a determined area section and vary according to defect type is selected, feature calculation on the spectral waveform data in accordance with the selected feature calculation equation is performed, and a calculated feature value and the selected determination index value are compared to perform determination processing according to defect type. |
| US08638428B2 |
Method and apparatus for using optical feedback to detect fiber breakdown during surgical laser procedures
Failure events detected by a laser surgery monitoring feedback circuit are analyzed in order to distinguish between events that result from fiber breakdown and those arising from other sources, such as burning of tissues. If the number of failure events within a predetermined time exceeds a predetermined count, then it is determined that the radiation is the result of fiber breakdown. If the number of failure events within the predetermined time is less than the predetermined count, then it is determined that the failure events result from other causes, such as heating of tissues by the laser. Based on the analysis, an override switch or alarm may be initiated. |
| US08638427B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting and counting platelets individually and in aggregate clumps
A method for enumerating platelets within a blood sample is provided. The method includes the steps of: 1) depositing the sample into a sample container having an analysis chamber adapted to quiescently hold the sample for analysis, and an amount of colorant that platelets absorb and which fluoresces upon exposure to one or more predetermined first wavelengths of light; 2) imaging at least a portion of the sample disposed in the analysis chamber, including producing image signals indicative of fluorescent emissions from the platelets illuminated by first wavelengths of light; 3) identifying the platelets using the image signals; and 4) enumerating individual platelets and clumped platelets within the sample using one or more of fluorescent emissions, area, shape, and granularity. |
| US08638425B2 |
Distance-measuring device with increased signal-to-noise ratio and method thereof
A method of increasing signal-to-noise ratio of a distance-measuring device includes a light-emitting component emitting a detecting light to a measured object during an emitting period for generating a reflected light, a delay period after the light-emitting component emitting the detecting light, a light-sensing component sensing the energy of the reflected light to generate a light-sensing signal, and obtaining a measured distance between the distance-measuring device and the measured object according to the energy of the detecting light and the light-sensing signal. Since the measured distance is longer than a predetermined shortest measured distance, the method can accordingly calculate a proper delay period for ensuring that the reflected light reaches the light-sensing component after the delay period. In this way, the light-sensing component does not sense the background light during the delay period, so that the signal-to-noise ratio of the light-sensing signal is improved. |
| US08638423B2 |
Range finder
A laser range finder includes: a light source emitting light from a linear light-emitting portion with making a divergent angle of the light larger in a transversal direction of the light-emitting portion than in a longitudinal direction thereof; an objective lens projecting the light onto a target object and converging reflection light; a partial reflection member disposed between the light source and the objective lens and having a partial reflection surface composed of a transmitting area transmitting light emitted from the light source and receiving areas reflecting reflection light; and a photodetector detecting the reflection light reflected by the receiving areas; wherein the light source and the partial reflection member are disposed with making the longitudinal direction of the light-emitting portion disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the transmitting area as seen along an optical axis. |
| US08638420B2 |
Optical integrator, illuminating optical device, exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An optical integrator has a plurality of wavefront dividing elements two-dimensionally arrayed, and is so configured that a ray group obliquely incident to an optical-axis center of an entrance face of each wavefront dividing element is emitted in parallel with the optical axis from the wavefront dividing element. In each of a required number of wavefront dividing elements out of the plurality of wavefront dividing elements, at least one curved optical face of the wavefront dividing element is formed as inclined around an axis along a predetermined direction passing an optical-axis center of an entrance face of the wavefront dividing element and being perpendicular to the optical axis AXe. |
| US08638412B2 |
Thin film transistor liquid crystal display device, substrate, and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention discloses a thin-film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display device, a substrate, and a manufacturing method thereof. The TFT substrate includes: a glass substrate and signal lines, scan lines, a first pixel electrode, a second pixel electrode, a common electrode, and the TFT. The first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode at least partially overlap each other. The second pixel electrode forms a plurality of horizontally arranged slits and the first pixel electrode forms a hollow structure in a portion overlapping the second pixel electrode. Through the above method, the present invention increases transmittance, improve view angle color shift, and improve the quality of image. |
| US08638410B2 |
Display panel and display apparatus using the same
The present invention provides a display panel and a display apparatus using the same. The display panel comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a first polarizer, a second polarizer, a half (½) wave plate and a quarter (¼) wave plate. The liquid crystal layer is formed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first polarizer is disposed at an outer side of the first substrate. The second polarizer is disposed at an outer side of the second substrate. The half wave plate is disposed on the first polarizer. The quarter wave plate is disposed on the half wave plate. The invention can improve a chromatic dispersion problem of a 3D display. |
| US08638409B2 |
Dual liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided. The LCD includes at least one light source which provides light, a display panel which includes pixels reflecting the light from the light source, and at least one light guide plate (LGP) which is formed substantially parallel to a surface of the display panel and is separated from the display panel, wherein a predetermined space is defined between the LGP and the display panel, and the LGP guides the light emitted from the light source to the pixels and allows the light reflected by the pixels to pass through the LGP. |
| US08638402B2 |
Stereoscopic display
A stereoscopic display includes: a display panel configured to display an image in either one of two or more arrangement states including a first arrangement state and a second arrangement state which are switchable with each other; and a lens array device arranged to face a display surface of the display panel. The lens array device produces a lens effect in a direction, the direction of effect being changed between in the first arrangement state and in the second arrangement state. The display panel includes an array of a plurality of sub-pixels, and a combination of sub-pixels used as a unit pixel is changed between in the first arrangement state and in the second arrangement state. |
| US08638399B2 |
Touch display device
A touch display device including a display, a touch panel and a transparent shielding layer is provided. The touch panel is disposed on the display, and includes a substrate and touch sensors positioned thereon. The transparent shielding layer is set between the display and the touch sensors of the touch panel, and includes an edge region and a central region wherein the impedance of the edge region is less than or equal to that of the central region. |
| US08638395B2 |
Consolidating prior temporally-matched frames in 3D-based video denoising
In one system embodiment, an overlapped block processing module configured to provide three-dimensional (3D) denoising of plural frames corresponding to a raw video sequence; and a frame alignment module configured to represent the raw video sequence with motion compensated frames corresponding to the raw video sequence, the motion compensated frames consisting of the plural frames and fewer in quantity than the quantity of frames of the raw video sequence, the plural frames based on prior temporally matched frames corresponding to the raw video sequence. |
| US08638393B2 |
Apparatus and method for converting image in an image processing system
An image conversion apparatus and method for converting a progressive image into an interlaced image in an image processing system are provided. A controller determines a number of frames to be used to convert a progressive image into an interlaced image. A converter generates an interpolated image for the progressive image according to the determined number of frames, and converts the progressive image into an interlaced image using the interpolated image. |
| US08638392B2 |
Camera housing with integrated expansion module
A camera housing includes an integrated expansion module for providing expanded functionality to a camera (e.g., a display screen). Different embodiments of the housing include different expansion modules for adding a variety of features to the camera when the camera is placed in the housing. Thus, a user may modify features of a camera by swapping the housing. Furthermore, a user may add a feature to an existing camera without needing to purchase a new camera. |
| US08638386B2 |
Image pickup device
An image pickup device includes a placing section on which an image pickup element that receives light from an object is placed, a tilted surface section, which is provided on the placing section and is tilted with respect to the axis of light that enters the image pickup element, a direction specifying section, which specifies a moving direction so that the placing section moves parallel to the optical axis direction, a panel section having a surface perpendicular to the optical axis, and a rotating member, which is disposed between the tilted surface section and the panel section, and rotates and moves in the tilt direction of the tilted surface by being in contact with the tilted surface section. |
| US08638379B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device with shared amplifier nearest pixel corresponding to shortest light wavelength and electronic apparatus using the same
An embodiment of the invention provides a solid-state image pickup device, including a pixel portion in which a plurality of light receiving areas corresponding to different wavelengths, respectively, are disposed, and transistors used commonly to the plurality of adjacent light receiving areas in the pixel portion, and disposed so as to be brought near to a side of the light receiving area, corresponding to the shorter wavelength, of the plurality of adjacent light receiving areas. |
| US08638378B2 |
Pixel array and image processing apparatus for image-capturing
An image-capturing apparatus includes a pixel array including pixels. Each of the pixels includes a transducer for generating signal charge according to the intensity of an incident light beam. The image-capturing apparatus further includes an output circuit for outputting a pixel signal outside the pixel array at a frame rate depending on the pixel position in the pixel array, based on the signal charge; and an output-controlling unit for controlling the operation of the output circuit. |
| US08638377B2 |
Solid state image pick-up device, semiconductor device, and camera system having auxiliary replacement pixels
A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel array including pixels, each having a photoelectric conversion element and a detecting unit detecting an acquired electric signal, arranged in a matrix, a signal line provided for each column of the pixel array and connected to the detecting unit through a switching element, a selection line provided for each row of the pixel array and supplied with a selection pulse causing the switching element to conduct, a resetting unit provided in each pixel constituting the pixel array and applying a predetermined potential to the detecting unit of the pixel, and an output control unit provided in each pixel constituting the pixel array and causing the switching element of the pixel to conduct according to the selection pulse supplied to another selection line connected to another switching element of another pixel belonging to another row. |
| US08638376B2 |
Image sensor for reducing kick-back noise and image pick-up device having the same
An image sensor comprises a plurality of pixel units connected to a column line, a signal process circuit configured to process a signal output from the column line according to a switching operation, and a kick-back noise blocking circuit configured to reduce kick-back noise caused by the switching operation. Each of the pixel units includes a photoelectric conversion element. The kick-back noise blocking circuit is connected between the column line and the signal process circuit. |
| US08638374B2 |
Image pickup apparatus, image pickup system, and image pickup method
This invention provides an image pickup apparatus that performs an image pickup operation that alternately repeats a long exposure LE and a short exposure SE. The image pickup apparatus drives an image pickup device in a first driving mode that makes a first time interval between an exposure end time of a pixel in an SE and an exposure start time of the pixel in an LE immediately thereafter and a second time interval between the exposure end time of the pixel in the LE and the exposure start time of the pixel in the SE immediately thereafter equal. |
| US08638371B2 |
Method of manipulating assets shown on a touch-sensitive display
A method of manipulating assets on a touch-sensitive display. The method includes showing a camera and a field of view of the camera on the touch-sensitive display. The method further includes detecting contact with the camera or the field of view of the camera on the touch-sensitive display, and manipulating the camera based on a gesture conducted on the camera or the field of view of the camera shown on the touch-sensitive display. |
| US08638365B2 |
Camera apparatus
A camera apparatus includes: a base; an outer case provided on the case for rotation around a first imaginary axis passing the base; an inner case provided on the outer case for rotation around a second imaginary axis extending on a plane intersecting with the first imaginary axis; a camera section incorporated in the inner case and having an image pickup optical system; a first driving section for rotating the outer case; a second driving section for rotating the inner case; and a conversion lens supported on the outer case; the inner case being rotated by the second driving section between a conversion lens use position at which an optical axis of the image pickup optical system is aligned with an optical axis of the conversion lens and a conversion lens non-use range within which an optical path of the image pickup optical system is displaced from the conversion lens. |
| US08638364B2 |
User interface system and method using thermal imaging
A thermal imaging interface for control of a computer program may obtain one or more thermal infrared images of one or more objects with one or more thermographic cameras. The images may be analyzed to identify one or more characteristics of the objects. Such characteristics may be used as a control input in the computer program. |
| US08638361B2 |
Endoscope apparatus
An endoscope apparatus has a transmission device of an endoscope and a reception device of a processor. The transmission device calculates a DC balance value of input data, compares the DC balance value and a cumulative value thereof, and compares the sign of the DC balance value and the sign of the cumulative value. When the signs are the same sign, the transmission device generates intermediate data by exchanging a first value and a second value with each other for all the bits of the input data, and generates predetermined information indicating that all the bits have been inverted. When the signs are different signs, the transmission device performs a process of setting the input data as the intermediate data and transmits the intermediate data by a serial signal. |
| US08638349B1 |
Head-medium contact detection using introduced heat oscillation
An apparatus includes a head transducer configured to interact with a magnetic recording medium and a heater configured to thermally actuate the head transducer. A thermal sensor at or near the head transducer is configured to produce a sensor signal. Circuitry is coupled to the heater and configured to cause an oscillation in heater power. The heater power oscillation causes an oscillation in the sensor signal. A detector is coupled to the thermal sensor and configured to detect head-medium contact using the oscillating sensor signal and heater power. |
| US08638345B2 |
Program generation device, program generation method, and computer-readable storage medium
A program generation device (11) for generating a control program for causing a display device (30) to display an image in different display sizes comprises: a determination unit (116) that determines a conversion image size based on the different display sizes of the image; a conversion unit (117) that converts an item of image data representing the image into an item of image data having an image size equal to the conversion image size; and a generation unit (118) that generates a control program for causing the display device to display the image in different display sizes by using the item of image data converted by the conversion unit. |
| US08638343B2 |
Data visualization platform performance optimization
Data visualization platform optimization may be provided. Applications may provide data values and request creation of a visualization from a data visualization platform (DVP). The DVP may composite a plurality of geometry records associated with a subset of the visualization's data values. The application may render the visualization by iterating through the geometry vectors and translating a subset of the vectors into drawing instructions for output to a display device. |
| US08638342B2 |
System and method for demosaicing image data using weighted gradients
Various techniques are provided herein for the demosaicing of images acquired and processed by an imaging system. The imaging system includes an image signal processor and image sensors utilizing color filter arrays (CFA) for acquiring red, green, and blue color data using one pixel array. In one embodiment, the CFA may include a Bayer pattern. During image signal processing, demosaicing may be applied to interpolate missing color samples from the raw image pattern. In one embodiment, interpolation for the green color channel may include employing edge-adaptive filters with weighted gradients of horizontal and vertical filtered values. The red and blue color channels may be interpolated using color difference samples with co-located interpolated values of the green color channel. In another embodiment, interpolation of the red and blue color channels may be performed using color ratios (e.g., versus color difference data). |
| US08638339B2 |
Method for correcting pixel data, and display apparatus for performing the method
A method is for correcting pixel data provided to a display apparatus. The display apparatus includes a display panel having a plurality of pixels and a light source module having a plurality of light-emitting blocks. The method includes determining a pixel luminance that is a luminance of light provided to one of the pixels; and generating correction data to correct the pixel data, the correction data being generated based on the pixel luminance and a maximum emission luminance that is a maximum luminance of the light emitted from one of the light-emitting blocks. |
| US08638335B2 |
Priority ordered user interface screens for controlling a device
An information processing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store information representing a plurality of screens in each of a plurality of groups to which priorities are previously set, a determination unit configured to determine a group which is assigned the highest priority, and a control unit configured to display on a display unit a representative screen of the group assigned the highest priority. |
| US08638331B1 |
Image processing using iterative generation of intermediate images using photon beams of varying parameters
A method and system for progressively rendering radiance for a volumetric medium is provided. A photon simulation produces a representation of photon beams in a scene. The photon beams are rendered with respect to a camera viewpoint, by computing an estimated radiance associated with the photon beams. A global radius scaling factor is applied to the photon beams. Over multiple iterations of these steps, the global radius scaling factor is progressively decreased, thereby reducing overall error by facilitating convergence. This order can be mixed up. Finally, the renderer can be efficiently implemented on the GPU as a splatting operation, for use in interactive and real-time applications. |
| US08638329B2 |
Auto-stereoscopic interpolation
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for auto-stereoscopic interpolation. A first two dimensional image and a second two dimensional image are received. A reduced pixel image is generated for each of the first and second two dimensional images, wherein each reduced pixel image comprises a reduced pixel size that is less than the original pixel size. Boundary information is calculated for each of the first and second two dimensional images. A depth map is calculated for the first and second reduced pixel images, wherein the depth map comprises data indicative of three dimensional information for one or more objects in the first and second reduced pixel images. A depth map is calculated for the first and second two dimensional images based on the boundary information for each of the first and second two dimensional images and the depth map of the first and second reduced pixel images. |
| US08638328B2 |
Systems and methods for visualizing multiple volumetric data sets in real time
Systems and methods for visualizing multiple volumes of three-dimensional data. A graphics card is used for voxel intermixing, pixel intermixing and image intermixing, which produces a final-combined image of the three-dimensional data in real time. |
| US08638326B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes: a display panel including a display area having an organic light emitting element for emitting light and a plurality of peripheral areas neighboring the display area; a driver corresponding to one of the plurality of peripheral areas and supplying driving power to the organic light emitting element; a plurality of power transferring units respectively corresponding to the plurality of peripheral areas thereby being respectively connected to the display panel and receiving the driving power from the driver thereby supplying the driving power to the organic light emitting element; and a power connecting unit connecting between the driver and the power transferring unit and at least one power connecting unit between the neighboring power transferring units among the plurality of power transferring units and transmitting the driving power from the driver to the power transferring unit. |
| US08638318B2 |
Multi-layer coversheet for saw touch panel
A touch panel includes a surface acoustic wave propagating substrate having top and bottom surfaces and a multi-layer coversheet that is positioned over the substrate. The coversheet includes a load-spreading layer, a compliant layer and an anti-sticking layer. The load-spreading layer has top and bottom surfaces, and the top surface receives touch input from an object. The compliant layer has top and bottom surfaces and the top surface of the compliant layer is coupled to the bottom surface of the load-spreading layer. The anti-sticking layer has top and bottom surfaces and the top surface of the anti-sticking layer is coupled to the bottom surface of the compliant layer. The bottom surface of the anti-sticking layer is positioned proximate to the top surface of the substrate. |
| US08638317B2 |
Display apparatus and method for controlling the same
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus including: a display panel having a display function and a light-receiving/imaging function; a first image processing section configured to generate a detection signal that indicates whether a to-be-detected object has been detected based on a result of first image processing performed on an image taken by the light-receiving/imaging function; a second image processing section configured to perform second image processing on the image processed by the first image processing section, the second image processing having a heavier processing load than the first image processing; and a control section configured to control an operation of the second image processing section in accordance with the detection signal generated by the first image processing section, and, when it is determined that the processing by the second image processing section is not necessary, control the second image processing section to enter a sleep state. |
| US08638316B2 |
Two prong capacitive sensor pattern
One embodiment of a capacitive sensor array may comprise a first plurality of sensor elements and a second sensor element capacitively coupled with each of the first plurality of sensor elements. The second sensor element may further comprise a first main trace and a second main trace, where the first main trace and the second main trace intersect each of the first plurality of sensor elements, and where each of the main traces cross at least one of a plurality of unit cells associated with the second sensor element. The second sensor element may also comprise a connecting subtrace electrically coupled to both the first main trace and the second main trace, and within each unit cell, at least one primary subtrace branching away from the first main trace or the second main trace. |
| US08638315B2 |
Virtual touch screen system
A virtual touch screen system that helps interacting with a computer application on the computer display wherein the system is comprised of: a touchpad connected to the computer and detects a finger position on its surface; a virtual touch screen which is a small window that appears on the computer display presenting a graphical user interface that enables interacting with the computer application; and a virtual spot which is a small circle that appears on the virtual touch screen representing the position of the finger on the touchpad wherein moving the finger on the touchpad manipulates the virtual spot to move on the virtual touch screen to interact with the graphical user interface. |
| US08638314B2 |
Capacitive touch buttons combined with electroluminescent lighting
A capacitive touch sensor includes a layer of electro-luminescent (EL) material arranged between a first electrode and a second electrode, A controller includes a capacitance sensing circuit coupled to first and/or second electrode and arranged to measure a capacitive coupling associated with the first and/or second electrode. The controller is further operable to apply an EL drive signal across the first and second electrodes to cause the layer of EL material between the electrodes to illuminate. This provides a simple structure that is sensitive to objects adjacent a sensing region defined by the first and/or second electrodes, and which may also be readily illuminated by applying an EL drive signal across the electrodes. |
| US08638313B2 |
Electrostatic capacitance type touch panel and screen input display device including the same
An electrostatic capacitance type touch panel includes: a substrate; a plurality of first electrodes disposed in parallel on the substrate; an insulating film formed so as to cover the plurality of first electrodes; a plurality of second electrodes disposed in parallel to intersect the plurality of first electrodes on the insulating film; a plurality of first drawing wiring lines connected to the plurality of first electrodes to be drawn to a connection terminal; and a plurality of second drawing wiring lines connected to the plurality of second electrodes to be drawn to the connection terminal. The plurality of first drawing wiring lines have different lengths, larger widths as the lengths are shorter, and larger intervals between adjacent two of the plurality of first drawing wiring lines as the lengths are longer. |
| US08638312B2 |
Advanced touch control of a file browser via finger angle using a high dimensional touchpad (HDTP) touch user interface
A method for controlling a file browser executing on a computing device is disclosed. A user interface touch sensor is configured to be responsive to at least one angle of contact with at least one finger. A change in an angle of the finger with respect to the surface of the touch sensor is measured by the touch sensor to produce measured data. Real-time calculations on the measured data are performed to produce a measured-angle value. The measured-angle value is used to control the value of at least one user interface parameter of the file browser. At least one aspect of the file browser changes in response to the angle of the position of the finger with respect to the surface of the touch sensor. |
| US08638310B1 |
Capacitive touch screen
An embodiment of a capacitive touch screen may comprise a display device comprising a substantially transparent substrate, a first plurality of electrodes attached to the substantially transparent substrate, wherein the first plurality of electrodes are substantially parallel in a first direction, and a second plurality of electrodes, wherein each of the second plurality of electrodes is capacitively coupled with each of the first plurality of electrodes. |
| US08638309B2 |
Apparatus, method, and medium for providing user interface for file transmission
Disclosed are an apparatus, method, and medium for providing a user interface for file transmission. The apparatus includes a motion perception (recognition) module perceiving (recognizing) a motion input to the user interface and identifying a position of the perceived (recognized) motion, a motion execution module executing a motion corresponding to the perceived motion and the identified position of the perceived motion and modifying components of the user interface according to the executed motion, and a communication module transmitting a file to a transmission target based on the perceived motion and the identified position of the perceived motion. The components of the user interface may include a file list region, a transmission target region, and an execution region. |
| US08638307B2 |
Electronic device and touch-sensitive input device
A touch-sensitive input device includes a cover, a set of first conductors disposed between the cover and a substrate, the first conductors including at least two fingers connected at an end of the fingers, dummy conductors disposed between the first conductors and between the fingers of the first conductors, and a second set of conductors disposed on an opposite side of the substrate. |
| US08638304B2 |
Touch sensing method and associated apparatus based on display panel common voltage
A touch screen includes an LCD panel; a display controller for processing a video signal to generate a panel control signal and a sensing control signal, with the panel control signal controlling the LCD panel so that the LCD panel displays images according to the panel control signal; a touch panel, for generating the sensing signal in response to a touch; and a sensing circuit, coupled to the touch panel and the display controller, for receiving the sensing signal and the sensing control signal to generate a position signal with reference to the sensing control signal. |
| US08638303B2 |
Stylus settings
Stylus settings techniques are described. In implementations, an input is recognized as selecting at least one object displayed in a user interface by a display device of a computing device. Responsive to the recognition, an indication is displayed on the display device that is selectable. Responsive to selection of the indication, a portion is displayed by the computing device that is configured to accept one or more inputs as a note to be associated with the at least one object. |
| US08638298B2 |
Computer mouse and method thereof
A method for a mouse is provided. The mouse includes a housing, a timing unit. A container is secured in the housing. The container is full of insulated liquid. A sphere suspends in the liquid. First sensors and second sensors are attached to the container. Each first sensors is charged, each second sensors is uncharged. The first sensors are spaced from each other by one second sensor. When any adjacent first sensor and second sensor are simultaneously contacted by the sphere, the contacted second sensor is thus charged. The method includes: determining whether any second sensor is charged; generating a position signal, controlling the timing unit to time within the period the any second sensor being charged; determining the movement direction of the a cursor; determining the movement distance of the cursor; and generating cursor control signal for controlling movement of the cursor. |
| US08638293B2 |
Method and apparatus for responding operations
A method for responding operations includes: intercepting a press-down event of a pointer equipment to obtain press-down position and time of the pointer equipment; intercepting a moving event of the pointer equipment to obtain a current position where the pointer equipment moves and time when the pointer equipment moves to the current position; calculating to obtain residence time, movement speed and movement direction of the pointer equipment according to the press-down position and time as well as the current position where the pointer equipment moves and the time when the pointer equipment moves to the current position; judging whether the current gesture is a dragging gesture or a scrolling gesture according to the residence time, movement speed and movement direction, executing a dragging operation if the current gesture is the dragging gesture, and executing a scrolling operation if the current gesture is the scrolling gesture. |
| US08638288B2 |
RGB LED backlight color control using adjustable driving current
A Red, Green, Blue Light Emitting Device (RGB LED) backlight color control system includes an RGB LED backlight comprising a red LED, a green LED, and a blue LED. A driving current regulator is coupled to each of the red LED, the green LED, and the blue LED. A backlight power control is coupled to each of the driving current regulators and operable to receive adjustment data and use the adjustment data to adjust the driving current supplied by at least one of the driving current regulators to at least one of the red LED, the green LED, and the blue LED. By adjusting the driving current supplied to the red LED, green LED, and/or the blue LED, color pallet points on a color triangle (associated with a display that uses the RGB LED backlight) are shifted to achieve the color desired by the user, avoiding the loss of color pallet points in the color triangle that occurs with conventional re-mapping techniques. |
| US08638286B2 |
Redundancy shift register circuit for driver circuit in active matrix type liquid crystal display device
An active matrix display device comprises a substrate having an insulating surface, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix form over the substrate, and a plurality of switching elements operationally connected to the pixel electrodes. Each of the switching elements further comprise a thin film transistor. The display device further includes a display medium comprising an emissive material that is capable of electrically changing luminous strength disposed at each of the pixel electrodes, and a driver circuit that includes a plurality of thin film transistors for driving the plurality of switching elements. Each of the plurality of thin film transistors comprise a crystallized semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film adjacent to the crystallized semiconductor layer and a gate electrode adjacent to the gate insulating film. |
| US08638285B2 |
Image data transfer to cascade-connected display panel drivers
A display device is provided with a display panel; first to n-th cascade-connected drivers (n being an integer of two or more); a controller transmitting compressed image data to the first driver. The i-th driver of the first to n-th drivers includes a drive circuitry driving the display panel; a first bus adapted to data transfer to the (i+1)-th driver of the first to n-th drivers; a second bus adapted to data transfer to the driver circuitry; and a decompression section receiving the compressed image data from the (i−1)-th driver of the first to n-th drivers or the controller. The decompression section of the i-th driver transfers the received compressed image data to the (i+1)-th driver through the first bus thereof, when the received compressed image data are not associated with the i-th driver. When the received compressed image data are associated with the i-th driver, the decompression section of the i-th driver decompresses the received compressed image data to generate decompressed image data and feeds the decompressed image data to the drive circuitry through the second bus. The drive circuitry drives the display panel in response to the decompressed image data. |
| US08638284B2 |
Gate signal line driving circuit and display device
A gate signal line driving circuit and a display device which can suppress the degradation of an element attributed to the use of the element for a long time, and can realize the prolongation of lifetime of the element are provided. With respect to elements to which a HIGH voltage is applied for a long time, a plurality of elements are connected in parallel, and at least some of the plurality of elements are driven by switching elements. |
| US08638272B2 |
Array antenna and method for manufacutring array antenna
An array antenna includes: a plurality of first antenna elements arrayed at specified element intervals on a plane of a board; a plurality of second antenna elements arrayed at the element intervals in parallel to an array direction of the first antenna elements on the plane; a first power supply circuit for supplying electric power to the respective first antenna elements by a line branched at a first branch point on the plane; and a second power supply circuit for supplying electric power to the respective second antenna elements by a line branched at a second branch point shifted by a specified distance in the array direction with respect to the first branch point on the plane. |
| US08638271B2 |
Multi-band antenna
A multi-band antenna includes a dielectric substrate, and a main antenna member and a metal piece disposed on the dielectric substrate. The main antenna member includes a feed-in portion for feeding with a radio frequency signal, a first conductor arm connected to the feed-in portion and adjacent to a first side edge of the dielectric substrate, a second conductor arm connected to the feed-in portion and having a length shorter than that of the first conductor arm, a third conductor arm connected to the feed-in portion, a fourth conductor arm extending along the third conductor arm, and a grounding portion adjacent to the feed-in portion. The metal piece is disposed at the first side edge and connected to the fourth conductor arm, resonates and couples with the first conductor arm to form a first radiator section, and cooperates with the fourth conductor arm to form a second radiator section. |
| US08638270B2 |
Cross-dipole antenna configurations
An apparatus has an improved antenna pattern for a cross dipole antenna. Such antennas desirably have an omnidirectional antenna pattern. Conventional cross dipole antennas exhibit nulls in their antenna patterns, which can cause antennas to deviate from a standard or specification. Applicant recognized and confirmed that the connection of a coaxial cable to the antenna arms is a cause of the nulls in the antenna pattern, and has devised techniques disclosed herein to compensate or cancel the effects of the connection. In one embodiment, the arms of the cross dipole antenna that are coupled to a center conductor of the coaxial cable remain of conventional length, but the arms of the cross dipole antenna that are coupled to a shield of the coaxial cable are lengthened by a fraction of the radius of the outer diameter of the coaxial cable. |
| US08638266B2 |
Antenna arrangement and a radio apparatus including the antenna arrangement
An antenna arrangement comprises a ground plane (14) and a planar antenna element (30) mounted spaced from and parallel to the ground plane. An open-ended slot (16) is provided in the ground plane (14), the slot being coextensive with an edge portion of the ground plane and having a first end (18) opening into the edge portion of the ground plane and a second closed end (20). An antenna feed (22) is coupled to the slot at a location intermediate the first and second ends. The planar antenna element is connected by an electrically conductive wall (28) to the edge portion of the ground plane, the wall (28) being coextensive with the slot (16). The combination of the slot shape, slot location and the wall serves to increase the bandwidth of the antenna arrangement. |
| US08638261B2 |
Multi-band combined antenna
A multi-band antenna includes a grounding element, a first antenna working on a wireless wide area network, a second antenna working on a wireless local area network, and a third antenna operating on a wireless local area network. The first antenna includes a first conductive piece, a first radiating element extending from the first conductive arm, a coupling radiating element and a feeding line. The second antenna includes a second conductive piece, a first resonant element extending from the second conductive piece, a second resonant element and a feeding line. The third antenna includes a third conductive element, a first conductive arm extending from the third conductive element and a second conductive arm and a feeding line. The first conductive piece is connected to the second conductive piece. |
| US08638259B2 |
Method and system for providing assistance data for A-GPS location of handsets in wireless networks
A system and method for determining the location of a wireless device. A boundary for an approximate area in which the wireless device is located is determined and a plurality of satellites may be determined as a function of the boundary. Assistance data is transmitted to the device which includes information from the plurality of satellites, and the location of the wireless device may be determined from the information. In one embodiment, if the number of the plurality of satellites is greater than a predetermined threshold then the number of satellites may be reduced as a function of one or more of the elevation of each satellite above the horizon, a distance between each satellite to one or more other satellites, and an altitude of each satellite. |
| US08638257B2 |
Ultra short baseline GNSS receiver
A GNSS receiver utilizes an antenna structure that two or more antennas that are spaced apart from their neighboring antennas by less than 1 wavelength of a GNSS satellite carrier signal of interest. The receiver calculates the orientation of the antennas directly from differences in the carrier phase angles measured at the two antennas, without resolving integer carrier cycle ambiguity. |
| US08638250B2 |
Amplifier, fully-differential amplifier and delta-sigma modulator
An amplifier, a fully-differential amplifier and a delta-sigma modulator are disclosed. The disclosed amplifier includes a front-end gain stage, an AC-coupled push-pull output stage and a compensation circuit. The compensation circuit is coupled between the front-end gain stage and an output terminal of the amplifier. The AC-coupled push-pull output stage uses an AC-coupled capacitor (which is a passive two terminal electrical component rather than a stray or parasitic capacitance of a transistor) to couple the front-end gain stage to a gate of a top or bottom transistor of a push-pull structure introduced in the AC-coupled push-pull output stage, and uses a resistance component to couple a gate of the top or bottom transistor (depending on which one is coupled to the AC-coupled capacitor) to a bias voltage level. |
| US08638249B2 |
System and method for high input capacitive signal amplifier
In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes determining an amplitude of an input signal provided by a capacitive signal source, compressing the input signal in an analog domain to form a compressed analog signal based on the determined amplitude, converting the compressed analog signal to a compressed digital signal, and decompressing the digital signal in a digital domain to form a decompressed digital signal. In an embodiment, compressing the analog signal includes adjusting a first gain of an amplifier coupled to the capacitive signal source, and decompressing the digital signal comprises adjusting a second gain of a digital processing block. |
| US08638244B2 |
Encoding module, apparatus and method for determining a position of a data bit within an interleaved data stream
An encoding module comprises an inverse interleaving module arranged to: determine an initial location index within an interleaving matrix for a data bit; and perform bit reverse ordering (BRO) on a column index value for the initial location index for the data bit to obtain a BRO column index value for the data bit. The inverse interleaving module is further arranged to calculate a number of valid interleaving matrix addresses preceding a location index for the data bit following bit reverse ordering; and determine a position of the data bit within the interleaved data stream based on the calculated number of valid addresses. |
| US08638243B2 |
Data compression device, data compression method, and medium
A prediction error calculation part calculates a prediction error for each input data. A prediction error encoding part generates a prediction error code by encoding the value of the prediction error. A run-length counting part counts the run-length of the prediction error. When the value of the prediction error changes, a run-length encoding part generates a run-length code by encoding the run-length counted. A code connecting part generates a connected code by connecting the run-length code to the prediction error code of a corresponding prediction error. When the value of the prediction error is a particular value, a prediction error checking part selects a connected code for the prediction error, as an output code. When the value of the prediction error is a different value, the prediction error checking part selects a prediction error code for the prediction error, as an output code. A code output part outputs the output code selected. |
| US08638242B2 |
Digital power management using serial data transfer
Methods and systems for digital control utilizing oversampling. |
| US08638228B2 |
Systems and methods for sensor-enhanced recovery evaluation
Systems and methods are discussed for providing sensor enhanced safety, recovery, and movement evaluation systems. Sensors that monitor user activity and behavior are worn by a user and/or placed in the user environment. Data from the sensors are processed to obtain a safety, recovery, and/or activity evaluation. Based on the evaluation, recommendations or adjustments to the terms of an insurance policy covering the user, the user's employer, or a facility providing health care to the user to accurately reflect the risks associated with the user, employer, and/or facility. |
| US08638226B2 |
Method and device for determining a leak in a system component and/or for determining a state of a system component
In a method and a device for determining a leak in at least one system component (2.1 through 2.n) and/or a state of a system component (2.1 through 2.n) of a system, at least one section of one or more system components (2.1 through 2.n) is monitored optically. Sound emissions occurring in or on at least one of the system components (2.1 through 2.n) are detected, analyzed and localized, wherein acoustically localized sound emission areas of the affected system component (2.1 through 2.n) are also optically detected and analyzed. |
| US08638225B1 |
Input signal power sensing sentry
The present invention is directed to a circuit device configured to monitor a sensor device. The sensor device is configured to measure a predetermined physical parameter and provide a sensor output signal corresponding to the predetermined physical parameter. The circuit device includes a sampling circuit configured to sample the sensor output signal to obtain a predetermined number (N) of sensor output signal samples. an analog multiplication circuit to generate one of a plurality of predetermined digital sequences. and an analog integrator circuit. configured to add the N multiplication products to generate an analog signal power estimation value which corresponds to a degree of correlation between the sensor output signal and the selected predetermined digital sequence. |
| US08638223B2 |
Mobile communicator with orientation detector
A mobile communication device adapted to communicate with a plurality of pre-determined sources disposed at pre-determined different locations includes an identification code, a receiver adapted to receive wirelessly communicated information from a particular source at a pre-determined location, an orientation detector that detects the orientation of the receiver relative to the pre-determined location of the particular source to provide an orientation signal indicating that the mobile communication device is oriented toward the predetermined location of the particular source, and an interface circuit responsive to the wirelessly communicated information and the orientation signal to register the identification code with the particular source. |
| US08638222B2 |
Controllable device selection based on controller location
Controllable device selection based on controller location is described. In embodiments, a companion utility is executed by a portable device to interface the portable device with a selected one of multiple controllable devices via a wireless network. A location of the portable device can be determined based on a positioning unit that is integrated with the portable device. A controllable device can then be selected that is proximate the location of the portable device for input control of the controllable device via the wireless network. |
| US08638221B2 |
Modular patient communicator for use in life critical network
A modular patient communicator provides for communications with a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and connectivity with a central authority (CA) via an unsecured network. Medical firmware and a radio facilitate wireless interrogation of the PIMD and acquisition of PIMD data. A universal communications port facilitates mechanical and signal connectivity with one or a multiplicity of disparate detachable modules, some of which provide the communicator with an external communications facility and have disparate communication protocols. The communicator is devoid of an external communications facility other than the radio and universal communications port. Life critical network software is executed in cooperation with an attached module to cause the communicator to transmit a request to a network access facility for a connection to the unsecured network, authenticate the communicator to the CA, and facilitate secured communication between the communicator and CA upon successful communicator authentication. |
| US08638220B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing data communication in data monitoring and management systems
Method and apparatus for communicating with a sealed electronic device via the electronic device's existing data ports for programming, testing configuration or diagnosis of the electronic device such as a transmitter unit for use in a data monitoring and management system such as analyte monitoring and management system is provided. |
| US08638201B2 |
Wildlife dislodging device
The wildlife dislodging device outputs sound signal while a frequency is changed to a different frequency stepwise, and suddenly outputs a sound signal pulse of a high frequency in changing the frequency. |
| US08638197B2 |
Two way remote control
A target device including a first tuner to output first signals from a first channel to an output device of the target device, a second tuner to selectively output second signals from a second channel to a remote control device, and an autonegotiation module to exchange data with the remote control device. The remote control device is configured to control the target device. The data exchanged with the remote control device relates to capabilities of at least one of the target device and the remote control device. The data includes at least one of an output resolution of the target device, a display size of the remote control device, a display resolution of the remote control device, and a processing power of the remote control device. The second tuner outputs the second signals to the remote control device based on the data exchanged with the remote control device. |
| US08638195B2 |
Method, transponder, and circuit for selecting one or more transponders
A method and device for selecting one or more transponders, in particular backscatter-based transponders, from a plurality of transponders by a base station, which method is based on a slotted ALOHA method, in which the base station defines numbered time slots and a random number generated in a given transponder determines a time slot when the transponder transmits its transponder-specific identification to the base station. The random number is generated in a given transponder with the aid of a random number generator, the relevant random number generator is switched into a counter operating mode after reception of a selection command transmitted by the base station, while a count state of the random number generator is decremented or incremented when the base station transmits the start of a time slot, the relevant transponder transmits a transponder-specific identification to the base station if the count state of its random number generator is equal to a predetermined value, and the relevant random number generator is then switched back into the operating mode for random number generation. |
| US08638191B2 |
Wireless hand-control of device by means of wireless button
A system for providing wireless remote control over one or more devices. Included in the system is at least one wireless button that can be placed at various locations and which communicates with at least one sensor when the wireless button and sensor are brought within close proximity to one another. According to one embodiment, a wireless button can only be activated when the button is located within an authorized activation area. In another embodiment, a wireless button can only be activated by an authorized user. In yet a further embodiment, a wireless button can only be activated by an authorized user when the button is located within an authorized activation area. |
| US08638189B2 |
Air conditioner system and method for controlling the same
The present invention relates to a system for controlling an air conditioner and method for controlling the same, and more particularly, to a system for controlling an air conditioner and method for controlling the same which can make real time control for maintaining system reliability, can make real time control of air conditioners while minimizing a network load to minimize a load on a server, and can prevent transmission and reception delay of a data. |
| US08638187B2 |
Low profile inductors for high density circuit boards
An inductor includes a core formed of a magnetic material and a foil winding wound at least partially around or through at least a portion of the core. A first end of the winding extends away from the core to form an extended output tongue configured and arranged to supplement or serve as a substitute for a printed circuit board foil trace. A second end of the winding forms a solder tab. At least a portion of the extended output tongue and the solder tab are formed at a same height relative to a bottom surface of the core. Another inductor includes a core formed of a magnetic material, a winding wound at least partially around or through at least a portion of the core, and a ground return conductor attached to the core. The core does not form a magnetic path loop around the ground return conductor. |
| US08638185B1 |
Magnetically-sensitive switch and electronic device with magnetically-sensitive switch
A magnetically-sensitive switch includes a housing, a metal block, a sling block, a rigid link, a first plate and an electrical switch. The housing includes a top wall, a bottom wall and two opposite sidewalls. A pair of sliding grooves is defined in the opposite sidewalls. The metal block is placed on the bottom wall. The sliding block is slidably connected to the sliding grooves. The rigid link is pivotally interconnected between the metal block and the sliding block. The first plate is attached to the housing. When the metal block is attracted by a magnetic force generated by a magnet placed adjacent to the top wall. The metal block is movable adjacent to the top wall, thereby driving the rigid link to drive the sliding block to slide towards the side opening along the sliding grooves until the sliding block triggers the electrical switch to generate a switching signal. |
| US08638184B2 |
ARC chute for a circuit breaker, circuit breaker and method for assembling an ARC chute
An arc chute for a DC circuit breaker is disclosed which includes at least one stack of a plurality of substantially parallel metal plates, the at least one stack defining a first axis A in parallel to a stacking direction; an arc space adapted to allow an arc to extend along the first axis, wherein a second axis traversing in parallel to the metal plates the at least one stack and the arc space substantially orthogonal to the first axis. Further, an arc-chute housing having at least one side wall, the at least one side wall being substantially parallel to the second axis, wherein the distance between the at least one sidewall and the metal plates is, for example, less than 5 mm, such as less than 2 mm. |
| US08638182B2 |
Systems and methods for electrical power multiplication
A power multiplier and method are provided. The power multiplier includes a power multiplying network that is a multiply-connected, velocity inhibiting circuit constructed from a number of lumped-elements. The power multiplier also includes a launching network, and a directional coupler that couples the launching network to the power multiplying network. The power multiplier provides for power multiplication at nominal power generation frequencies such as 50 Hertz, 60 Hertz, and other power frequencies, in a compact circuit. |
| US08638179B2 |
Micromechanical resonating devices and related methods
Micromechanical resonating devices, as well as related methods, are described herein. The resonating devices can include a micromechanical resonating structure, an actuation structure that actuates the resonating structure, and a detection structure that detects motion of the resonating structure. A bias structure separated from the mechanical resonating structure is provided to tune a resonance frequency of the mechanical resonating structure. |
| US08638178B1 |
Methods of testing packaged thin-film piezoelectric-on-semiconductor microelectromechanical resonators having hermetic seals
Methods of testing packaged thin-film piezoelectric-on-semiconductor (TPoS) microelectromechanical resonators having hermetic seals include measuring a quality factor (Q) of resonance of the packaged resonator at at least two unequal temperatures to determine whether a ΔQ/ΔT is significantly different (e.g, by at least 50%) over a temperature range (ΔT) spanning a smallest and largest of the at least two temperatures. These measurements are performed for a packaged resonator having a QAIR |
| US08638176B1 |
Slew rate edge enhancer
A slew rate enhancing system includes first and second modules. The first module is configured to generate a first output signal in response to complementary first and second input signals. The second module is configured to generate a second output signal in response to the first and second input signals. The first module is configured to switch between tracking the first input signal and not tracking the first input signal during each half cycle of the first input signal based on values of the first input signal, the second input signal, and a predetermined threshold of the first module. The second module is configured to switch between tracking the first input signal and not tracking the second input signal during each half-cycle of the second input signal based on values of the first input signal, the second input signal, and a predetermined threshold of the second module. |
| US08638174B2 |
Digital signal generator
The invention relates to a digital signal generator for providing one or more phases of a local oscillator signal for use in digital to analogue converters and harmonic rejection mixers. Embodiments disclosed include a local oscillator signal generator (200) for a mixer of a radiofrequency receiver, the signal generator (200) comprising a bit sequence generator (201) having a plurality of parallel output lines (203), a digital signal generator (202) having a serial output line (204) and a plurality of input lines connected to respective output lines (203) of the bit sequence generator (201) and a clock signal input line (205), wherein the digital signal generator (202) is configured to provide an output bit sequence on the serial output line (204) at a rate given by a clock signal provided on the clock signal input line (205) and a sequence given by a sequence of bits from the bit sequence generator (201) on the plurality of input lines (203). |
| US08638173B2 |
System and method of calibrating a phase-locked loop while maintaining lock
A method of calibrating a phase-locked loop (PLL) while maintaining lock includes detecting that a control signal to an oscillator in a PLL has exceeded a threshold value while the PLL is locked to an input signal. In response, an operating current of the oscillator is adjusted to return the control signal below the threshold value while maintaining lock of the PLL to the input signal. Adjusting the operating current includes slowly varying an output current of a calibration circuit coupled to the PLL, enabling the PLL to maintain lock to the input signal during adjustment of the operating current. |
| US08638168B1 |
Digital power amplifier
Systems and methods for power amplification using multiple digital amplifiers are provided. A power amplifier includes a first digital amplifier configured to process a digital input signal to generate a first analog output signal. The first analog output signal is configured to have a magnitude corresponding to amplitude information of the digital input signal. The power amplifier further includes a second digital amplifier configured to process an adjusted digital input signal to generate a second analog output signal. The second analog output signal is configured to have a magnitude corresponding to amplitude information of the adjusted digital input signal. An adjustment module configured to adjust amplitude information and phase information of the digital input signal generates the adjusted digital input signal. The digital input signal is adjusted to control a relationship between the first analog output signal and the second analog output signal. |
| US08638165B2 |
Switched-capacitor DC blocking amplifier
A switched-capacitor DC blocking amplifier is disclosed. In an embodiment, an integrated circuit is provided that includes an amplifier having an amplifier input and an amplifier output, a capacitor connected to the amplifier input and configured to receive an input signal, and a switched capacitor circuit coupled to provide a resistance between the amplifier input and the amplifier output. In one implementation, the switched capacitor circuit is configured with a feed forward circuit to reduce aliasing. In another implementation, the switched capacitor circuit includes a switched impedance circuit to reduce noise. |
| US08638164B2 |
Amplifier including dithering switch and display driving circuit using the amplifier
An amplifier and a display driving circuit. The amplifier includes an input stage, a bias stage and an output stage. The input stage determines voltage levels of two nodes in correspondence to two input voltages received in response to a first bias voltage, and includes four path selecting switches, two input transistors and one bias transistor. The bias stage generates two class AB output voltages which correspond to the voltage levels of the two nodes, and includes current mirrors, ten path selecting switches, class AB bias circuits and two bias transistors. The output stage generates an output voltage VOUT that corresponds to the two class AB output voltages, and includes two coupling capacitors and two push-pull transistors. The plurality of path selecting switches operate by one signal of a first path selecting signal and a second path selecting signal that are exclusively enabled with respect to each other. |
| US08638161B2 |
Power control device and method therefor
Power control is facilitated. In accordance with one or more embodiments, power is supplied to power rails of an integrated circuit using a power control circuit including a power regulator and a reset circuit that is responsive to a supply voltage. The power regulator provides power to the power rails, based upon a control signal. The reset circuit controls the power regulator to provide power to the power rails independently of the control signal when the supply voltage is below an operational voltage level, and controls the power regulator to provide power to the power rails in response to the control signal when the supply voltage reaches the operational voltage level. |
| US08638158B2 |
Signal transmitting apparatus
A signal transmitting apparatus that may suppress generation of a noise voltage attributable to a common mode voltage is provided. A transistor P1 is connected between a first terminal of a sending coil and a power supply voltage. A transistor N1 is connected between the first terminal and a ground voltage. A transistor P2 is connected between a second terminal of the sending coil and the power supply voltage. A transistor N2 is connected between the second terminal and the ground voltage. In a period-PE1 a coil current flowing in a positive direction is generated by turning on the transistors P1 and N2 and turning off the transistors P2 and N1, and then the transistor N1 is turned on in response to turning off the transistor P1. In a period PE2, a coil current flowing in a negative direction is generated by turning off the transistors P1 and N2 and turning on the transistors P2 and N1, and then the transistor N2 is turned on in response to turning off the transistor P2. |
| US08638157B2 |
Level shifting circuitry
Level shifting circuitry comprises a first level shifter and a second level shifter. In response to a falling edge transition of an input signal, the first level shifter generates a primary transition of a first intermediate signal faster than the second level shifter generates a secondary transition of a second intermediate signal. In response to a rising edge of the input signal, the second level shifter generates a primary transition of the second intermediate signal faster than the first level shifter generates a secondary transition of the first intermediate signal. Output switching circuitry is provided to switch an output signal between an output high voltage level and an output low voltage level in response to the primary transition of the first intermediate signal and the primary transition of the second intermediate signal. |
| US08638156B2 |
Multi-output-resistance switch driver circuits
A switch circuit can include an impedance selection switch and a multi-output-resistance switch driver. The impedance selection switch can electrically connect an impedance to an input of an amplifier in response to a driver output signal, and include at least one transistor. The multi-output-impedance switch driver may provide the driver output signal to the switch, and have a first, relatively higher output resistance when providing a first logic state of the driver output signal to turn on the switch, and a second, relatively lower output resistance when providing a second logic state of the driver output signal to turn off the switch. The ratio of the first output resistance to the second output resistance can be greater than a selected predetermined ratio value. |
| US08638154B2 |
System clock monitoring apparatus and motor control system
A mode determination circuit is configured to determine whether there is a status change of the electric system associated with a frequency variation of a system control clock, and a clock change circuit is configured to change the system control clock from a system clock to a monitoring clock based on a determination result obtained by the mode determination circuit. |
| US08638149B1 |
Equalized rise and fall slew rates for a buffer
Aspects of the invention provide for equalizing rise and fall slew rates at an output for a buffer. In one embodiment, a method includes: measuring, simultaneously, rise and fall slew rates at an input of the buffer and rise and fall slew rates at the output of the buffer; generating a slew reference based on at least one of the rise slew rate or the fall slew rate at the input of the buffer; comparing the rise slew rate and the fall slew rate at the output of the buffer to the slew reference; and generating at least one of a rise control signal or a fall control signal for adjusting at least one of the rise slew rate or the fall slew rate at the output of the buffer. |
| US08638147B2 |
Clock generator and system including the same
A clock generator includes a digitally controlled oscillator configured to generate an output clock having a frequency depending on an input code; a phase comparison section configured to output a phase difference signal by comparing a reference phase with a phase of the output clock, the reference phase being based on an input clock and a predetermined frequency multiplication number; a low-pass filter configured to provide the input code for the digitally controlled oscillator by filtering the phase difference signal; a waveform generating section configured to generate a predetermined spread spectrum wave, the predetermined spread spectrum wave being to be added with both of the frequency multiplication number and the input code; and a detection/compensation section configured to compensate the input code so that the phase difference is reduced, the phase difference being detected from the phase difference signal. |
| US08638146B1 |
Dual mode phase detection
A method of measuring a phase difference for use in a phase locked loop (PLL) that includes a binary phase detector (BPD), a time-to-digital converter (TDC) and a signal generator, the phase difference being that between a reference signal and a generated signal output from the signal generator. The method includes inputting the reference signal and the generated signal into the TDC; measuring the magnitude of the phase difference at the TDC; if the measured magnitude of the phase difference is less than a threshold value, operating the PLL according to a first operational mode in which the output of the BPD controls the signal generator; and if the measured magnitude of the phase difference is greater than the threshold value, operating the PLL according to a second operational mode in which the output of the TDC and the BPD controls the signal generator. |
| US08638145B2 |
Method for locking a delay locked loop
A method and apparatus for synchronizing a delay line to a reference clock includes a delay line that receives a clock input signal based on a reference clock and outputs a delay edge signal according to a control adjustment. An injector receives a first rise edge of the reference clock and in response to a first trigger, sends the clock input signal to the delay line. A synchronizer determines that the rise edge has passed through the delay line, and in response, sends the injector a second trigger to send a next single fall edge of the clock input signal to the delay line. A charge pump determines a timing difference between the delay edge signal and a reference edge signal sent from the injector. The charge pump sends the control signal to the delay line to adjust the delay setting of the delay line based on the timing difference. |
| US08638144B1 |
Systems and methods involving phase detection with adaptive locking/detection features
Systems and methods associated with control of clock signals are disclosed. In one exemplary implementation, there is provided a delay-lock-loop (DLL) and/or a delay/phase detection circuit. Moreover, such circuit may comprise digital phase detection circuitry, digital delay control circuitry, analog phase detection circuitry, and analog delay control circuitry. Implementations may include configurations that prevent transition back to the unlocked state due to jitter or noise. |
| US08638143B2 |
Phase locked loop frequency synthesizer circuit with improved noise performance
A phase locked loop frequency synthesizer comprises a voltage controlled oscillator; a loop filter for supplying a control voltage to the oscillator; a phase frequency detector arranged to detect a phase difference between a reference signal and a feedback signal generated from the oscillator signal and generate pulses on detector signals (UP/DN) dependent on the sign of the phase difference; and a charge pump (61) comprising current generating means and controlled switches (64, 65) arranged to convert pulses on the detector signals to current pulses from a reference voltage (Vdd′) to a common terminal (Vloop) connected to the loop filter or to current pulses from the common terminal to ground. The current generating means comprises at least one resistor (62, 63) connected between the common terminal and the switches, and the charge pump comprises an operational amplifier (66) coupled to keep the reference voltage at twice the voltage at the common terminal. |
| US08638140B2 |
PLL circuit
A phase locked loop (PLL) circuit including a phase comparator for comparing a phase of a reference signal with a phase of a feedback signal, an oscillator for outputting an output signal at a frequency in accordance with an output of the phase comparator, a feedback loop for returning the output signal of the oscillator and supplying the output signal as the feedback signal, and a delay circuit for delaying the phase of the output signal output from the oscillator to a load circuit, wherein the delay circuit is provided outside the feedback loop. |
| US08638139B2 |
Phase locked loop (PLL) based frequency sweep generator
A phase locked loop (PLL) based frequency sweep generator and methods for performing a frequency sweep are disclosed. In one implementation, the frequency sweep generator includes a circuit configured to generate a signal having a saw-tooth wave frequency ramp. The saw-tooth wave frequency ramp includes a rising portion and a resetting portion. The resetting portion has a shorter duration than the rising portion and includes a plurality of steps for decrementing the frequency of the signal. |
| US08638130B1 |
Low headroom line driver
Low headroom line driver circuits are disclosed. In several embodiments, the line driver circuits include a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor and a fourth transistor, where the first transistor and second transistors; and the third and fourth transistors are matched, first and second matched impedances, first and second driver controls circuit configured to apply control signals to the gates of the first and second transistors; and the third and fourth transistors respectively. In addition, the first and third transistors; and the second and fourth transistors are configured as a pair of stacked transistors connected between the voltage supplies Vdd and Vss, the second and fourth transistors are configured as a pair of stacked transistors connected between the voltage supplies Vdd and Vss, the matched impedances are connected in series between nodes formed by the connection between the first and third transistors; and the second and fourth transistors. |
| US08638129B2 |
Power circuit
A power circuit. One embodiment provides a circuit for driving a power transistor having a control electrode and a load path. The circuit includes a driver circuit configured to change the power transistor to a completely on or off state with the aid of a control signal supplied to the control electrode. A series circuit includes a semiconductor switching element and a capacitor. The series circuit is connected in parallel with the load path and the capacitor provides a supply voltage for the driver circuit. |
| US08638127B2 |
Temperature-independent undervoltage detector and related method
Embodiments related to an undervoltage detector are described and depicted. An undervoltage detector is formed to detect a low input bias voltage with a voltage divider network including first and second series circuits of semiconductor devices coupled to terminals of the input bias voltage source, and a resistor voltage divider including first and second voltage divider resistors coupled in series with the first and second series circuits. A ratio representing the numbers of semiconductor devices in the series circuits is substantially equal to a ratio of resistances in the resistor voltage divider. The equality of the ratios may be corrected by the presence of other resistances in the undervoltage detector. The semiconductor devices are each coupled in a diode configuration. The first series circuit is coupled to a current mirror to provide a bias current for a comparator that produces an output signal for the undervoltage detector. |
| US08638124B1 |
Clock phase shift detector
A clock phase shift detector circuit may include a phase detector for generating a phase signal based on a phase difference between first and second clock signals. A current mirror having a first, a second, and a third integrator may be coupled to the phase detector, whereby the first integrator integrates the first clock signal and generates a first voltage, the second integrator integrates the first clock signal and generates a second voltage, and the third integrator integrates the phase signal and generates a third voltage. A first comparator receives the first and the third voltage, and generates a first control signal. A second comparator receives the second and the third voltage, and generates a second control signal. The first and second control signals may detect a change between the phase difference of the first and the second clock signal and an optimized phase difference. |
| US08638122B2 |
Apparatus for metastability-hardened storage circuits and associated methods
A metastability-hardened storage circuit includes at least one inverting circuit. The inverting circuit has a logical input. The logical input of the inverting circuit is split into a pair of physical inputs. |
| US08638119B2 |
Configurable circuits, IC's, and systems
Some embodiments of the invention provide a configurable integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes a logic circuit for receiving input data sets and configuration data sets and performing several functions on the input data sets. Each configuration data set specifies a particular function that the logic circuit has to perform on the input data set. The IC also includes a connection circuit for supplying sets of the configuration data to the logic circuit at a particular rate for at least a particular time period. At least two supplied configuration data sets are different and configure the logic circuit to perform two different functions on the input data. |
| US08638118B2 |
Wafer inspection device
A wafer inspection device, which inspects the electrical properties of a semiconductor wafer on which a semiconductor integrated circuit is formed, and the wafer inspection device has: a holding mechanism for holding a probe card; a wafer stage that holds the semiconductor wafer on the upper surface and is movably provided; and a pressing mechanism that are held and press the wafer stage against the probe card. The wafer stage is provided on the outer periphery with a seal ring. The seal ring forms a sealed space in a state where the wafer and the probe card are brought close to each other by contacting the probe card and is provided in such a manner as to reduce the pressure of the sealed space. |
| US08638111B2 |
Zinc oxide sulfur sensor measurement system
A measurement system is disclosed for determining a sulfur concentration in a liquid, such as a liquid fuel. The measurement system includes a first electrode that is at least partially coated with zinc oxide and, more specifically, zinc oxide microstructures. The zinc oxide microstructures have a crystal lattice structure that is oriented in the (002) plane. The first electrode may be connected to an electrometer which, in turn, may be connected to a second electrode. The second electrode may be disposed on a common substrate with the first electrode or may be in the form of a plate disposed substantially parallel to the first electrode. |
| US08638110B2 |
High resolution circuit for converting capacitance-to-time deviation
There is provided a high resolution circuit for converting a capacitance-to-time deviation including a capacitance deviation detecting unit generating two detection signals having a phase difference corresponding to variations of capacitance of an micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) sensor; a capacitance deviation amplifying unit dividing frequencies of the two detection signals to amplify the phase difference corresponding to the capacitance deviation; and a time signal generating unit generating a time signal having a pulse width corresponding to the amplified phase difference. |
| US08638108B2 |
Device and method for contact free absolute position determination
The present invention relates to a contact free arrangement for determining an absolute position of a member adapted for setting an amount of medicament to be injected from a medication delivery device, or adapted for determining an amount of medicament injected from a medication delivery device. The arrangement according to the present invention comprises at least one track of reflector means, at least one emitter means, and at least one receiver means. The at least one emitter means and the at least one receiver means are adapted to electrically couple to a number of the reflector means. The electrical coupling may be capacitive or inductive. In addition, the present invention relates to a medication delivery device or a syringe having such arrangement. |
| US08638104B2 |
Method for determining spatial distribution of fluid injected into subsurface rock formations
A method for determining spatial distribution of fluid injected into a subsurface rock formation includes injecting the fluid into the rock formation. The fluid includes therein electrically conductive solid particles dispersed in an electrolyte. An electromagnetic response of the formation is measured. The measured electromagnetic response is used to determine spatial distribution of the injected fluid. |
| US08638102B2 |
Parametric amplifier device
A parametric amplifier device has a two port parametric amplifier, a DC voltage generator and a DC bias regulator. The bias regulator has a voltage regulator, an attenuator and a summer. Output voltages from the regulator and the attenuator are added in the summer. |
| US08638101B2 |
Method and apparatus for compensating insufficient homogeneity of the basic magnetic field in a magnetic resonance apparatus
In a method and device for compensating the insufficient homogeneity of a magnetic field in a magnetic resonance system, the spatial position and size of a basic magnetic field region and at least one additional magnetic field region in a field to be homogenized and determined. An optimization calculation is implemented on the basic magnetic field region and the at least one additional magnetic field region. A homogenized magnetic field at the main magnetic field region and the at least one additional magnetic field region is output according to the result of the optimization calculation. |
| US08638097B2 |
Interference compensation in MR measurements on moving objects through adjustment of the measurement conditions
A method for generating magnetic resonance (MR) images or MR spectra of at least one partial area of a moving object with at least one motion sequence that is repeated during consecutive motion states is proposed. In a learning measurement, a monitor signal of the repeating motion sequence is recorded, and MR test data of the partial area of the object are recorded under known measurement conditions, wherein the MR test data is associated with the motion states of the motion sequence. In an evaluation step, the MR test data of the motion states of the motion sequence are compared to each other with respect to at least one parameter, and the variation of the at least one parameter over the motion sequence is determined. The instantaneous motion state of the object in the motion sequence is constantly determined in a target measurement during recording of the MR images or MR spectra of the partial area via a monitor signal, and the associated variation of the at least one parameter is constantly compensated for by corresponding variation of the measurement conditions. The quality of MR measurements for recording moving objects is thereby improved, in particular, when retroactive calculation of disturbances in the measured MR data is not possible. |
| US08638095B2 |
Correction of truncations in MR imaging
A method is disclosed for correction of truncations of a magnetic resonance image of an object under examination in the reconstruction of image data from raw data. In at least one embodiment, the method includes determining a number of one-dimensional projections of imaged field of view in the Radon space from the raw data in order to obtain a projection profile; checking each projection profile for whether the projection profile exhibits a truncation; if the respective checked projection profile exhibits a truncation, expanding the projection profile for correcting the truncation in that the projection profile is extrapolated in accordance with a predetermined extrapolation model in the area in which it exhibits the truncation; and reconstructing image data based on the expanded projection profiles in which the truncation of the image of the object under examination is corrected. |
| US08638093B2 |
Systems and methods for enhancing reliability of MEMS devices
A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device that in one embodiment includes at least two MEMS switches coupled to each other in a back-to-back configuration. The first and second suspended elements corresponding to first and second MEMS switches are electrically coupled. Further, first and second contacts corresponding to the first and second MEMS switches are configured such that a differential voltage between the second suspended element and the second contact is approximately equal to a differential voltage between the first suspended element and the first contact. The MEMS device includes at least one actuator coupled to one or more of the first and second suspended elements to actuate one or more of the first and the second suspended elements. In one example, the MEMS device includes one or more passive elements coupled to one or more of the first and second MEMS switches. |
| US08638091B2 |
Rotary eddy current testing probe device
A rotary eddy current flaw detection probe device has a plurality of Θ-shaped eddy current flaw detection probes attached in a rotating disc for detecting flaws in all directions regardless of the flaw direction. Four Θ-shaped eddy current testing probes P11 to P22 are arranged around the rotation center Ds1 of a rotating disc 111 and are embedded in the disc 111. The coil planes of detector coils Ds11 to Ds22 of the testing probes P11 to P22 are parallel with each other, and are perpendicular to the rotation plane of the rotating disc 111. The coil planes of the detector coils incline at an angle θ relative to a line Y passing through the centers Ps11 and Ps12 of the probes P11 and P12. The detector coils Dc11 and Dc12 are cumulatively connected to each other and the detector coils Dc21 and Dc22 are differentially connected to each other. |
| US08638090B2 |
Magnetic sensor system and method
A sensor system method of production includes forming first and second structures of the magnetoresistive system, heating the first and second structures, applying a magnetic field in a reference direction to the first and second structures, and cooling the first and second structures to fix a reference magnetization in the first and second structures in the reference direction. The structures are heated to near or above a blocking temperature, whereby the shape anisotropy of the first structure forces the reference magnetization to rotate into a first new orientation and the shape anisotropy of the second structure forces the reference magnetization to rotate into a second new orientation whereby the reference magnetization in the first and second structures rotate in opposite directions. The rotated reference magnetizations of the first and second structures are pinned in the respective new orientation. |
| US08638089B2 |
Device for locating whether a wheel-tire assembly is positioned on the right or the left of a vehicle
A self-contained device intended to be carried by a wheel-tire assembly in order to locate whether the assembly is positioned on the right side or on the left side of a vehicle is described. The device includes two magnetic sensors with axes of maximum sensitivity, the sensors providing two periodic signals that are phase shifted relative to one another. Each signal is representative of variations in the magnitude of the magnetic field detected by the sensor during a revolution of the wheel-tire assembly. The device also includes a processing unit programmed to determine, from the phase shift between the two periodic signals, a direction in which the wheel-tire assembly is rotating and to deduce, from this direction of rotation and from a direction of travel of the vehicle, whether the wheel-tire assembly is located on the right side or on the left side. The two magnetic sensors are intended to be positioned on the wheel-tire assembly at distinct azimuthal locations. A filtering element of the device is designed to eliminate components of the two periodic signals having frequencies that are below or equal to a given frequency. |
| US08638087B2 |
Apparatus for employing low ohmic alloy conductors and method for simplifying current drain data retrieval
Apparatus and method for measuring current drain and reporting power consumption using current transformer with primary windings made of low ohmic alloy, enabling the use of the secondary coil to power the sensing and reporting circuits eliminating the power wasted by AC-DC power adaptors used for the current sensors. The saving is substantial as the current sensors will not drain a current when the AC outlets are disconnected from a load or when the load is switched off. The apparatus using low ohmic alloy is extended to the structuring of terminals, including power pins, power sockets and combinations to provide a low ohmic sensing elements in AC plugs, outlets, adaptors and extension cables with multi outlets, dissipating the heat from the sensing elements by the plugs and the larger metal heat dissipation. |
| US08638085B2 |
Apparatus and methods for mapping a wired network
The present disclosure relates to a system and method for determining the electrical connections of a plurality of nodes. The nodes may include an electrical power distribution system including a plurality of nodes, connected to the power distribution system. At least two of the nodes include node electronics, at least one of the nodes is configured to be operatively coupled to an external power drawing load, and at least one of the nodes upstream from the node configured to be operatively coupled to the external power drawing load is configured to detect power drawn by the external power drawing load. The at least one upstream node is configured to send a node electrical signals using the node electronics indicating that the drawn power was detected. The system is configured to identify the wiring configuration of the plurality of nodes relative to each other based on the node electrical signal. |
| US08638083B2 |
Control for an electrically adjustable piece of furniture
A control module includes a control unit that is configured to control an electrically adjustable item of furniture, and a switched mode power supply that is configured to supply the control unit. The control unit and power supply are integrated into a common housing. The switched mode power supply is configured to be switched to an idle operating state depending on a ready signal. The switched mode power supply includes, in a second stage, a switched mode regulator component, the supply voltage of which is made available in the idle operating state by a starting circuit in a clocked manner. The starting circuit has an energy store and a resistive element. The energy store and the resistive element are dimensioned so that, in the idle operating state, an interval for charging the energy is longer than an interval for discharging the energy store by the switched mode regulator component. |
| US08638075B2 |
Apparatus and method for recovery of wasted power from differential drivers
An apparatus and method for supplying power to circuits of an integrated circuit (IC) from the wasted power in low-swing high-speed differential line drivers used in the IC, is disclosed. In a high speed line driver the load resistors of the driver are connected to a power supply, either the local power supply or the receiver power supply. DC power for the driver is supplied through these resistors. A large portion of this power, supplied from the power supply is wasted in the DC set-up circuit of the differential line driver. It is proposed to use this wasted power to power selected circuits of an IC. The use of this wasted power from the drivers for powering the circuits reduces the overall power dissipation of the system. |
| US08638074B2 |
Controllable universal supply with reactive power management
Apparatus and associated methods involve a controllable supply adapted for controlling switch phasing and pulse width to substantially equalize power in adjacent quadrants of a sinusoidal source voltage waveform to regulate reactive power drawn from the source. In an illustrative example, the supply may, in some embodiments, deliver power to a load at a level responsive to a commanded input signal. In some examples, the power supplied to the load may be adjusted according to the command input signal to a selected value within an operating range. In some examples, the operating range may include a portion or all of 0 to 100% of rated load. Various embodiments may be adapted to supply unipolar or bipolar load excitation. In some embodiments, high power factor may be maintained over a substantial range of commanded power to the load. Certain embodiments may enhance supply efficiency by capturing and recycling inductive load energy. |
| US08638070B2 |
Method and circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell
The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a change in terminal voltage of the battery/cell. In another aspect, the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a partial relaxation time of the battery/cell. In yet another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of an overpotential or full relaxation time of the battery/cell. In another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a state of charge of the battery/cell. In another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a state of health of the battery/cell. |
| US08638067B2 |
Cold end switch battery management control method
In one embodiment of the cold end switch battery management control method, a battery generates an output voltage at a positive terminal thereof. A first control voltage is also generated by an integrated circuit. A gate of a field effect transistor (FET) receives the first control voltage, wherein the FET comprises a drain and a source with the source coupled to a negative terminal of the battery. The FET transmits current towards the battery in response to the gate receiving the first control voltage, wherein the first control voltage is greater than the output voltage, and wherein the first control voltage is less than a breakdown voltage of the integrated circuit. |
| US08638066B2 |
Battery optimization and protection in a low power energy environment
A method and apparatus for providing battery optimization and protection in a low power energy environment is presented. A current configuration of a battery module including a plurality of a particular type of battery is determined. A voltage level of the battery module is detected. A determination is made whether the current configuration of the battery module is a preferred configuration for the particular type of batteries of the battery module. When the determination is that the current configuration of the battery module is not the preferred configuration for the particular type of batteries of the battery module, then the battery module is reconfigured to a preferred configuration for the particular type of batteries of the battery module. |
| US08638063B2 |
AC current control of mobile battery chargers
A charging system and method that improves utilization of available AC power during onboard charging of energy storage systems of electric vehicles. An onboard charging method for an energy storage system of an electric vehicle, the method using an AC power source, includes a) establishing a maximum DC charging current for the energy storage system responsive to a control signal indicating real-time available current/power from the AC source; and b) controlling a charging system to provide an actual DC charging current, up to the maximum DC charging current, to the energy storage system. |
| US08638062B2 |
Wireless charging system
The present invention provides wireless power supply systems that wirelessly supply power to a remote device for rapidly charging a charge storage capacitor, which charges a battery with the power stored in the charge storage capacitor. This allows the remote device to be positioned near the inductive power supply for rapid charging of the charge storage capacitor and allows battery charging to continue even after the remote device is removed from the inductive power supply. |
| US08638061B2 |
Hybrid energy storage system, renewable energy system including the storage system, and method of using same
This disclosure generally relates to stabilizing energy provided by an energy source, and more particularly to systems and methods for using multiple types of energy storage devices to selectively capture and provide energy. An energy source provides energy, and the energy storage devices selectively capture energy provided by the energy source in excess of an immediate energy requirement of a load and selectively provide energy when the immediate energy requirement of the load exceeds the energy provided by the energy source. |
| US08638046B2 |
Light emitting device, light emitting system comprising the same, and method of fabricating thereof
A light emitting device that provides white light of various color temperatures by using a double-sided light emitting element, a light emitting system comprising the same, and a method of fabricating thereof are provided. The light emitting device includes a double-sided light emitting element including a first light emitting element on one side of a substrate and emits light having a first wavelength and a second light emitting element on the other side of the substrate and emits light having a second wavelength, wherein the first wavelength and the second wavelength are different each other, a first variable resistor coupled to the first light emitting element and adjusting a first driving power applied to the first light emitting element, and a second variable resistor coupled to the second light emitting element and adjusting a second driving power applied to the second light emitting element. |
| US08638045B2 |
Mutli-string LED current control system and method
Embodiments described herein provide a LED lighting system and method. A transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding. A plurality of LED strings are coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer. At least one switch is coupled to at least one of the plurality of LED strings. A controller is coupled to the at least one switch and configured to control the operation of the at least one switch such that current flows through the plurality of LED strings in an alternating manner. |
| US08638039B2 |
Electronic ballast and method for providing a DC voltage component during lamp startup
A discharge lamp ballast and method of operation are provided for generating a DC component in an output voltage during a lamp starting operation having a predetermined duration. The ballast includes an inverter having four switches arranged in a full-bridge configuration, a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency, and a control circuit. The method includes a step of sweeping an inverter operating frequency within a predetermined frequency range including the resonant frequency, wherein a high voltage is generated for igniting the lamp. The method further includes periodically and alternately repeating a first state of turning on a first set of diagonally positioned switching elements and turning off a second set of diagonally positioned switching elements, and a second state of turning on only one of the second set of switching elements and turning off the remaining three switching elements, respectively. |
| US08638038B2 |
System for reprogramming power parameters for light emitting diodes
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) modules in series are monitored. When an LED module is detected as failing or operating inadequately, a bypass switch removes the particular LED module from the series and the voltage provided to the series is modified. When the LED modules are detected as having too high of a temperature, the current provided to the LED modules is limited. |
| US08638036B2 |
Wake-up of light sensor in a lighting system
A wireless light sensor, being part of a lighting system, has a sensor element generating a light measuring signal, a microcontroller coupled to the sensor element, and a radio communication device coupled to the microcontroller. The microcontroller has an active mode and a sleeping mode. The light sensor further has a wake-up circuit which determines a rate of change of the light measuring signal, when the microcontroller is in the sleeping mode. The wake-up circuit brings the microcontroller from the sleeping mode into the active mode, when the rate of change of the light measuring signal exceeds a predetermined threshold. |
| US08638034B2 |
Multi-micro hollow cathode light source and atomic absorption sepctrometer
The multi-micro hollow cathode light source has a cathode plate, an insulation plate, an anode plate, and metal pieces. The insulation plate is sandwiched by the cathode plate and the anode plate. The cathode plate is made of copper. The centers of the cathode plate, insulation plate, and anode plate, are provided with holes, respectively. The holes form a penetrating though-hole. Linear slots are disposed in the cathode plate continuously extending from the hole in a cross shape. Each slot penetrates the cathode plate. Four metal pieces made of materials different from one another are inserted and buried in the four slots. |
| US08638024B2 |
Actuator
The invention provides an actuator for an electric motor and an electric motor including said actuator. The actuator includes one or more body formed from a dielectric elastomer, each body having at least one active region that is directly or indirectly coupled to a drive means. The active regions are arranged such that, in use, actuation thereof causes driven means to move with components in at least first and second directions, preferably within a plane of the body. |
| US08638022B2 |
Piezoelectric resonator having mesa type piezoelectric vibrating element
A vibrating element includes: an element plate that has a vibrating portion that performs thickness-shear vibration, a peripheral portion that is integrally formed with the vibrating portion, and a protruding portion that is provided at the peripheral portion; and an excitation electrode that is provided at the vibrating portion. When a side length of the vibrating portion is Mx, when a side length of the excitation electrode is Ex, and when a wavelength of flexure vibrations of the element plate is λ, the relationship of (Mx−Ex)/2=λ/2, and Mx/2={(A/2)+(¼)}λ (where, A is a positive integer) is satisfied, and when a length of the protruding portion is Dx, and when a distance between the vibrating portion and the protruding portion is Sx, the relationship of Dx=λ/2)×m, and (λ/2)×n−0.1λ≦Sx≦(λ/2)×n+0.1λ (where m and n are positive integers) is satisfied. |
| US08638020B2 |
Stator structure
A stator structure, including strip shaped stator cores and end insulators. The end insulators are injection molded with the strip shaped stator cores, as a whole. A wire duct is arranged on top of a yoke of each strip shaped stator core and at the bottom of each end insulator. Two ends inside the wire duct are projected with bosses. Coil windings wind around the bosses and pass through the wire duct. The stator structure is simple and easy to mass produce. It can make full use of the slot filling ratio of the strip shaped stator. The invention solves the puncture problem. |
| US08638017B2 |
Rotor for permanent magnet rotating machine
In connection with a permanent magnet rotary machine comprising a rotor comprising a rotor core and a plurality of permanent magnet segments embedded in the rotor core and a stator comprising a stator core having a plurality of slots and windings therein, the rotor and the stator being disposed to define a gap therebetween, or a permanent magnet rotary machine comprising a rotor comprising a rotor core and a plurality of permanent magnet segments mounted on the surface of the rotor core and a stator comprising a stator core having a plurality of slots and windings therein, the rotor and the stator being disposed to define a gap therebetween, the rotor wherein each of the permanent magnet segments is an assembly of further divided permanent magnet pieces, and the coercive force near the surface of the magnet piece is higher than that in the interior of the magnet piece. |
| US08638015B2 |
Motor with rotor case having coupling component
A motor may include: a rotor case having a coupling hook extending downward in an axial direction, secured to a shaft, and performing rotation; a sleeve supporting the shaft; and a sleeve housing having a projection provided at a front end portion of an upper part thereof in the axial direction and a guide passage provided along the projection such that the coupling hook moves along the guide passage while the sleeve is pressed and inserted into an inner circumferential surface thereof. |
| US08638012B2 |
Rotor for a synchronous reluctance machine
A rotor for a synchronous reluctance machine wherein a torque ripple behaviour of the machine is optimized by altering the geometry of insulating barriers of the rotor. A q-axis pitch angle is used as a design variable instead of setting its value equal to the rest of the rotor slot pitches or binding its value to the stator slot pitch. The resulting rotor has a non-regular slot pitch across the q-axis and substantially regular slot pitch otherwise. Synchronous reluctance machines that employ rotor discs and rotor assemblies in accordance with the present invention may exhibit low torque ripple without sacrificing high torque values. |
| US08638009B2 |
Corrosion reducing two-wire control systems
A control system for a two-wire power and communication system is described herein. A gateway connects to an irrigation controller and at least two wires that are further connected to a plurality of decoders. The gateway includes an H-bridge circuit that creates an alternating potential at the same potential or lower than the nearby ground. In this respect, when one of the at least two communication wires are damaged, little or no wire corrosion will occur. |
| US08638007B2 |
Converter device and uninterruptible power supply provided with such a device
A converter to supply an AC voltage and current from three DC voltages comprising two switching units provided with first switching means connected between an input and a switching output, said converter comprising, for each switching unit, second switching means connected between said switching unit and a modulated signal output, and a switching aid circuit, said converter comprising control means acting on the second switching means associated with the switching unit that is connected to the voltage input of opposite sign to the sign of said AC voltage to establish turn-off of said second switching means when said AC voltage and said AC current are of opposite signs.An uninterruptible power supply comprising the converter described above. |
| US08638002B2 |
Kaman vortex street generator
A Karman vortex street generator including a shell (1), permanent magnets (3, 6), a vortex generating body (4), and a metal winding (5). Both ends of the shell (1) are respectively provided with an inlet end (2) and an outlet end (7). The permanent magnets (3, 6) are respectively located on two corresponding surfaces inside the shell (1), and the N pole of the permanent magnet on one surface corresponds to the S pole of the permanent magnet on the other surface so as to form a magnet field in the shell (1). The vortex generating body (4) is provided in the vertical center position near the inlet end (2) in the shell (1) so as to generate a Karman vortex when a fluid flows. The metal winding (5) located in the magnet field is able to regularly cut magnetic lines of force under the action of the Karman vortex and makes magnetic flux passing through the metal winding (5) change so as to generate an induction current. |
| US08637997B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a semiconductor device with an improved yield ratio and reduced height and manufacturing cost; and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device including a substrate, a semiconductor element that is flip-chip connected to the substrate, and a molding portion that seals the semiconductor element. The side surfaces of the semiconductor element are enclosed by the molding portion. An upper surface of the semiconductor element is not enclosed by the molding portion. Damage to the side surfaces of the semiconductor element caused by an external impact when the semiconductor device is stored is minimized, because the molding portion protects the side surfaces of the semiconductor element. Accordingly, the yield ratio of the semiconductor device is improved. The height of the semiconductor device can also be reduced since the upper surface of the semiconductor element is not enclosed with the molding portion. |
| US08637995B2 |
Bonded semiconductor structures including two or more processed semiconductor structures carried by a common substrate
Methods of forming semiconductor devices include providing a substrate including a layer of semiconductor material on a layer of electrically insulating material. A first metallization layer is formed over a first side of the layer of semiconductor material. Through wafer interconnects are foamed at least partially through the substrate. A second metallization layer is formed over a second side of the layer of semiconductor material opposite the first side thereof. An electrical pathway is provided that extends through the first metallization layer, the substrate, and the second metallization layer between a first processed semiconductor structure carried by the substrate on the first side of the layer of semiconductor material and a second processed semiconductor structure carried by the substrate on the first side of the layer of semiconductor material. Semiconductor structures are fabricated using such methods. |
| US08637991B2 |
Microelectronic package with terminals on dielectric mass
A package for a microelectronic element, such as a semiconductor chip, has a dielectric mass overlying the package substrate and microelectronic element and has top terminals exposed at the top surface of the dielectric mass. Traces extending along edge surfaces of the dielectric mass desirably connect the top terminals to bottom terminals on the package substrate. The dielectric mass can be formed, for example, by molding or by application of a conformal layer. |
| US08637986B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing thereof
A semiconductor device which includes a first semiconductor chip 10, a first electrode 12 formed on the first semiconductor chip 10, a second semiconductor chip 20 to which the first semiconductor chip 10 is mounted, a second electrode 22 with a protrusion 24, which is formed on the second semiconductor chip 20, and a solder bump 14 which bonds the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 22 to cover at least a part of a side surface of the protrusion 24, and a method for manufacturing thereof are provided. |
| US08637983B2 |
Face-to-face (F2F) hybrid structure for an integrated circuit
An integrated circuit (IC) product includes a redistribution layer (RDL) having at least one conductive layer configured to distribute electrical information from one location to another location in the IC. The RDL also includes a plurality of wire bond pads and a plurality of solder pads. The plurality of solder pads each includes a solder wettable material that is in direct electrical communication with the RDL. |
| US08637979B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip having a first main surface and a second main surface; a stacked structure on which the semiconductor chip is disposed; and a cooling body on which the stacked structure is disposed. The stacked structure includes a first thermal conductor fixed to the cooling body, an insulator disposed on the first thermal conductor, and a second thermal conductor disposed on the insulator and having the semiconductor chip disposed thereon. The first main surface of the semiconductor chip opposite to the second main surface in contact with the stacked structure is sealed with an insulation material. At least a part of the first thermal conductor protrudes outwardly of the insulation material in plan view. |
| US08637976B2 |
Semiconductor device with lead terminals having portions thereof extending obliquely
A semiconductor device in which a semiconductor chip, a lead frame and metal wires for electrically connecting the lead frame are sealed with sealing resin. The lead frame has a plurality of lead terminal portions, a supporting portion for supporting the semiconductor chip, and hanging lead portions supporting the supporting portion. Each of the lead terminal portions adjacent to the hanging lead portion is a chamfered lead terminal portion having, at its head, a chamfered portion formed substantially in parallel with the hanging lead portion so as to avoid interference with the hanging lead portion. |
| US08637973B2 |
Packaged microelectronic components with terminals exposed through encapsulant
A microelectronic component package includes a plurality of electrical leads which are coupled to a microelectronic component and which have exposed lengths extending outwardly beyond a peripheral edge of an encapsulant. A plurality of terminals may be positioned proximate a terminal face of the encapsulant and these terminals may be electrically coupled to the same leads. This can facilitate connection of the microelectronic component to a substrate using the leads as a conventional leaded package. The terminals, however, can facilitate stacking of the leaded package with one or more additional microelectronic components, e.g., a BGA package. |
| US08637970B2 |
Chip package and fabrication method thereof
An embodiment of the present invention relates to a chip package and fabrication method thereof, which includes a chip protection layer or an additional etching stop layer to cover conducting pads to prevent dicing residue from damaging or scratching the conducting pads. According to another embodiment, a chip protection layer, an additional etching stop layer formed thereon, or a metal etching stop layer level with conducting pads or combinations thereof may be used when etching an intermetal dielectric layer at a structural etching region and a silicon substrate to form an opening for subsequent semiconductor manufacturing processes. |
| US08637969B2 |
Stacked chips in a semiconductor package
A method of forming a semiconductor package having a large capacity and a reduced or minimized volume includes: attaching a semiconductor substrate on a support substrate using an adhesive layer, wherein the semiconductor substrate includes a plurality of first semiconductor chips and a chip cutting region, wherein first and second ones of the plurality of first semiconductor chips are separated each other by the chip cutting region, and the semiconductor substrate includes a first surface on which an active area is formed and a second surface opposite to the first surface; forming a first cutting groove having a first kerf width, between the first and second ones of the plurality of first semiconductor chips, so that the semiconductor substrate is separated into a plurality of first semiconductor chips; attaching a plurality of second semiconductor chips corresponding to the first semiconductor chips, respectively, to the plurality of first semiconductor chips; forming a molding layer so as to fill the first cutting groove; and forming a second cutting groove having a second kerf width that is less than the first kerf width, in the molding layer, so as to separate the molding layer into individual molding layers covering one of the plurality of first semiconductor chips and corresponding one of the plurality of second semiconductor chips. |
| US08637964B2 |
Low stray inductance power module
A power module includes a substrate including an insulating member and a patterned metallization on the insulating member. The patterned metallization is segmented into a plurality of spaced apart metallization regions. Adjacent ones of the metallization regions are separated by a groove which extends through the patterned metallization to the insulating member. A first power transistor circuit includes a first power switch attached to a first one of the metallization regions and a second power switch attached to a second one of the metallization regions adjacent a first side of the first metallization region. A second power transistor circuit includes a third power switch attached to the first metallization region and a fourth power switch attached to a third one of the metallization regions adjacent a second side of the first metallization region which opposes the first side. The second power transistor circuit mirrors the first power transistor circuit. |
| US08637962B2 |
Semiconductor dice including at least one blind hole, wafers including such semiconductor dice, and intermediate products made while forming at least one blind hole in a substrate
Semiconductor dice comprise at least one bond pad on an active surface of the semiconductor die. At least one blind hole extends from a back surface of the semiconductor die opposing the active surface, through a thickness of the semiconductor die, to an underside of the at least one bond pad. At least one quantity of passivation material covers at least a sidewall surface of the at least one blind hole. At least one conductive material is disposed in the at least one blind hole adjacent and in electrical communication with the at least one bond pad and adjacent the at least one quantity of passivation material. |
| US08637959B2 |
Vertical parasitic PNP device in a BiCMOS process and manufacturing method of the same
The invention discloses a vertical parasitic PNP transistor in a BiCMOS process and manufacturing method of the same, wherein an active region is isolated by STIs. The transistor includes a collector region, a base region, an emitter region, pseudo buried layers, and N-type polysilicon. The pseudo buried layers, formed at the bottom of the STIs located on both sides of the collector region, extend laterally into the active region and contact with the collector region, whose electrodes are picked up through making deep-hole contacts in the STIs. The N-type polysilicon is formed on the base region and contacts with it, whose electrodes are picked up through making metal contacts on the N-type polysilicon. The transistors can be used as output devices in high-speed and high-gain circuits, efficiently reducing the transistors area, diminishing the collector resistance, and improving the transistors performance. The method can reduce the cost without additional technological conditions. |
| US08637957B1 |
Low cost anti-fuse structure
An anti-fuse structure is provided in which an anti-fuse material liner is embedded within one of the openings provided within an interconnect dielectric material. The anti-fuse material liner is located between a first conductive metal and a second conductive metal which are also present within the opening. A diffusion barrier liner separates the first conductive metal from any portion of the interconnect dielectric material. The anti-fuse structure is laterally adjacent an interconnect structure that is formed within the same interconnect dielectric material as the anti-fuse structure. |
| US08637956B2 |
Semiconductor devices structures including an isolation structure
A shallow isolation trench structure and methods of forming the same wherein the method of formation comprises a layered structure of a buffer film layer over a dielectric layer that is atop a semiconductor substrate. The buffer film layer comprises a material that is oxidation resistant and can be etched selectively to oxide films. The layered structure is patterned with a resist material and etched to form a shallow trench. A thin oxide layer is formed in the trench and the buffer film layer is selectively etched to move the buffer film layer back from the corners of the trench. An isolation material is then used to fill the shallow trench and the buffer film layer is stripped to form an isolation structure. When the structure is etched by subsequent processing step(s), a capped shallow trench isolation structure that covers the shallow trench corners is created. |
| US08637954B2 |
Integrated circuit technology with different device epitaxial layers
A semiconductor die includes a substrate, a first device region and a second device region. The first device region includes an epitaxial layer on the substrate and one or more semiconductor devices of a first type formed in the epitaxial layer of the first device region. The second device region is spaced apart from the first device region and includes an epitaxial layer on the substrate and one or more semiconductor devices of a second type formed in the epitaxial layer of the second device region. The epitaxial layer of the first device region is different than the epitaxial layer of the second device region so that the one or more semiconductor devices of the first type are formed in a different epitaxial layer than the one or more semiconductor devices of the second type. |
| US08637953B2 |
Wafer scale membrane for three-dimensional integrated circuit device fabrication
An fabrication of three-dimensional integrated devices and three-dimensional integrated devices fabricated therefrom are described. A device side of a donor wafer is coated with a polymer film and exposure of a substrate side to an oxidizing plasma creates a continuous SiO2 film. Portions of the substrate side are selectively coated with a polymer film and etching of uncoated areas removes at least a substantial portion of the crystalline substrate. A plasma etch tool etches a crystalline substrate to within a pre-determined thickness. The silicon portions of the substrate side are etched by exposure to TMAH. After etching, the donor semiconductor wafer is supported by portions of the substrate that were not etched. The supporting structure allows flexing of the donor semiconductor wafer within the etched areas to enable conformality and reliable bonding to the device surfaces of an acceptor wafer to form a three dimensional integrated device. |
| US08637952B2 |
Semiconductor device with zener diode and method for manufacturing same
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first conductivity type region, a device isolation insulating film, a second conductivity type region, and a low concentration region. The first conductivity type region is formed in part of the semiconductor substrate. The device isolation insulating film is formed in an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate and includes an opening formed in part of an immediately overlying region of the first conductivity type region. The second conductivity type region is formed in the opening and is in contact with the first conductivity type region. The low concentration region is formed along a side surface of the opening, has second conductivity type, has an effective impurity concentration lower than an effective impurity concentration of the second conductivity type region, and separates an interface of the first conductivity type region and the second conductivity type region from the device isolation insulating film. |
| US08637951B2 |
Semiconductor light receiving element and optical communication device
A semiconductor light receiving element comprises: a substrate, a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type formed on the substrate, a non-doped semiconductor light absorbing layer formed on the semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type, a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type formed on the non-doped semiconductor light absorbing layer, and an electro-conductive layer formed on the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type. A plurality of openings, periodically arrayed, are formed in a laminated body composed of the electro-conductive layer, the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type, and the non-doped semiconductor light absorbing layer. The widths of the openings are less than or equal to the wavelength of incident light, and the openings pass through the electro-conductive layer and the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type to reach the non-doped semiconductor light absorbing layer. |
| US08637950B2 |
Semiconductor device, method for manufacturing the same, method for generating mask data, mask and computer readable recording medium
A semiconductor device has first wiring layers and a plurality of dummy wiring layers that are provided on the same level as the first wiring layers. The semiconductor device defines a row direction, and first virtual linear lines extending in a direction traversing the row direction. The row direction and the first virtual linear lines define an angle of 2-40 degrees, and the dummy wiring layers are disposed in a manner to be located on the first virtual linear lines. The semiconductor device also defines a column direction perpendicular to the row direction, and second virtual linear lines extending in a direction traversing the column direction. The column direction and the second virtual linear lines define an angle of 2-40 degrees, and the dummy wiring layers are disposed in a manner to be located on the second virtual linear lines. |
| US08637935B2 |
Semiconductor device including embedded isolation regions and method for forming the same
A method for forming a semiconductor device comprises: forming at least one gate stack structure and an interlayer material layer between the gate stack structures on a semiconductor substrate; defining isolation regions and removing a portion of the interlayer material layer and a portion of the semiconductor substrate which has a certain height in the regions, so as to form trenches; removing portions of the semiconductor substrate which carry the gate stack structures, in the regions; and filling the trenches with an insulating material. A semiconductor device is also provided. The area of the isolation regions may be reduced. |
| US08637931B2 |
finFET with merged fins and vertical silicide
A finFET device is provided. The finFET device includes a BOX layer, fin structures located over the BOX layer, a gate stack located over the fin structures, gate spacers located on vertical sidewalls of the gate stack, an epi layer covering the fin structures, source and drain regions located in the semiconductor layers of the fin structures, and silicide regions abutting the source and drain regions. The fin structures each comprise a semiconductor layer and extend in a first direction, and the gate stack extends in a second direction that is perpendicular. The gate stack comprises a high-K dielectric layer and a metal gate, and the epi layer merges the fin structures together. The silicide regions each include a vertical portion located on the vertical sidewall of the source or drain region. |
| US08637930B2 |
FinFET parasitic capacitance reduction using air gap
A transistor, for example a FinFET, includes a gate structure disposed over a substrate. The gate structure has a width and also a length and a height defining two opposing sidewalls of the gate structure. The transistor further includes at least one electrically conductive channel between a source region and a drain region that passes through the sidewalls of the gate structure; a dielectric layer disposed over the gate structure and portions of the electrically conductive channel that are external to the gate structure; and an air gap underlying the dielectric layer. The air gap is disposed adjacent to the sidewalls of the gate structure and functions to reduce parasitic capacitance of the transistor. At least one method to fabricate the transistor is also disclosed. |
| US08637929B2 |
LDMOS transistor having a gate electrode formed over thick and thin portions of a gate insulation film
A disclosed MOS transistor has a drain region offset from a gate electrode structure, wherein the gate electrode structure includes at least a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode such that the second gate electrode is located at the drain side of the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode is isolated from the first gate electrode by an insulation film, and wherein the first and second gate electrodes are formed respectively on a first gate insulation film and a second gate insulation film having an increased thickness as compared with the first gate insulation film. |
| US08637928B2 |
Semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a base region of a second conductivity type, a drift region of a first conductivity type, an insulating layer, a drain region of the first conductivity type, a gate oxide film, a gate electrode, a first main electrode, and a second main electrode. The base region includes a source region of the first conductivity type. The drift region is adjacent to the base region. The insulating layer is provided from a surface to inside of the drift region. The drain region is provided in the surface of the drift region and opposed to the source region across the base region and the insulating layer. The gate oxide film is provided on a surface of the base region. The gate electrode is provided on the gate oxide film. The first main electrode is connected to the source region. The second main electrode is connected to the drain region. As viewed in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the base region, the source region and at least a part of the drain region extend generally parallel in a line shape, and a length of a portion of the drift region sandwiched between the insulating layer and the base region is shorter in the generally parallel extending direction than in a direction generally perpendicular to the generally parallel extending direction. |
| US08637927B2 |
Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same
Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same may be provided. The semiconductor devices may include a trench in a substrate. The semiconductor devices may also include a bulk electrode within opposing sidewalls of the trench. The semiconductor devices may further include a liner electrode between the bulk electrode and the opposing sidewalls of the trench. The liner electrode may include a sidewall portion between a sidewall of the bulk electrode and one of the opposing sidewalls of the trench. |
| US08637922B1 |
Semiconductor device
A manufacturing method provides a semiconductor device having a semiconductor body defining a source region, a body region, a drift region and a diode region. The drift region has a first drift region section and a second drift region section. The diode region is buried within the drift region, and has a semiconductor type opposite to the drift region to form a diode. The diode region is separated from the gate electrode by the first drift region section extending from the diode region in a vertical direction. The gate electrode is adjacent the body region and insulated from the body region by a gate dielectric. A source electrode is electrically connected to the source region, the body region and the diode region. A semiconductor region of a doping type opposite to the doping type of the drift region is arranged between the first drift region section and the source electrode. |
| US08637921B2 |
Nitridation oxidation of tunneling layer for improved SONOS speed and retention
A method for forming a tunneling layer of a nonvolatile trapped-charge memory device and the article made thereby. The method includes multiple oxidation and nitridation operations to provide a dielectric constant higher than that of a pure silicon dioxide tunneling layer but with a fewer hydrogen and nitrogen traps than a tunneling layer having nitrogen at the substrate interface. The method provides for an improved memory window in a SONOS-type device. In one embodiment, the method includes an oxidation, a nitridation, a reoxidation and a renitridation. In one implementation, the first oxidation is performed with O2 and the reoxidation is performed with NO. |
| US08637917B2 |
Semiconductor devices including vertical channel pattern
An insulating pattern is disposed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate and includes a silicon oxynitride film. A conductive pattern is disposed on the insulating pattern. A data storage pattern and a vertical channel pattern are disposed within a channel hole formed to vertically penetrate the insulating pattern and the conductive pattern. The data storage pattern and the vertical channel pattern are conformally stacked along sidewalls of the insulating pattern and the conductive pattern. A concave portion is formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the insulating pattern. The concave portion is recessed relative to a bottom surface of the insulating pattern. |
| US08637915B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes first and second memory cells having a floating gate and a control gate. The floating gate of the first and second memory cells is comprised a first part, and a second part arranged on the first part, and a width of the second part in an extending direction of the control gate is narrower than that of the first part. A first space between the first parts of the first and second memory cells is filled with one kind of an insulator. The control gate is arranged at a second space between the second parts of the first and second memory cells. |
| US08637914B2 |
Memory cells having a plurality of control gates and memory cells having a control gate and a shield
Various embodiments comprise apparatuses having a number of memory cells. In one such apparatus, each cell has a plurality of control gates. For example, each of two control gates is adjacent a respective side of a charge storage structure. In another apparatus, each cell has a control gate and a shield, such as where the control gate is adjacent one side of a charge storage structure and the shield is adjacent another side of the charge storage structure. Additional apparatuses and methods are described. |
| US08637910B2 |
Image sensor
An image sensor includes an active region including a photoelectric conversion region and a floating diffusion region, which are separated from each other, defined by a device isolation region on a semiconductor substrate, and a transfer transistor including a first sub-gate provided on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate and a second sub-gate extending within a recessed portion of the semiconductor substrate on the active region between the photoelectric conversion region and the floating diffusion region, wherein the photoelectric conversion region includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, which vertically overlap each other within the semiconductor substrate and are spaced apart from the recessed portion. |
| US08637909B1 |
Mixed mode dual switch
Various aspects of the technology provide for a converter circuit such as a dc-dc voltage converter or buck converter. The circuit includes a enhancement mode control Field Effect Transistor (FET) fabricated using gallium arsenide and an depletion mode sync FET fabricated using gallium arsenide. A drain of the sync FET may be coupled to a source of the control FET and an inductor may be coupled to the source of the control FET and the drain of the sync FET. |
| US08637908B2 |
Borderless contacts in semiconductor devices
A method includes depositing a dummy fill material over exposed portions of a substrate and a gate stack disposed on the substrate, removing portions of the dummy fill material to expose portions of the substrate, forming a layer of spacer material over the exposed portions of the substrate, the dummy fill material and the gate stack, removing portions of the layer of spacer material to expose portions of the substrate and the dummy fill material, depositing a dielectric layer over the exposed portions of the spacer material, the substrate, and the gate stack, removing portions of the dielectric layer to expose portions of the spacer material, removing exposed portions of the spacer material to expose portions of the substrate and define at least one cavity in the dielectric layer, and depositing a conductive material in the at least one cavity. |
| US08637904B2 |
Method of producing semiconductor device and semiconductor device
A method of producing a semiconductor device, includes: forming a semiconductor layer on a substrate; forming an a recess in the semiconductor layer by dry etching with a gas containing fluorine components, the recess having an opening portion on the surface of the semiconductor layer; forming a fluorine-containing region by heating the semiconductor layer and thus diffusing, into the semiconductor layer, the fluorine components attached to side surfaces and a bottom surface of the recess; forming an insulating film on an inner surface of the recess and on the semiconductor layer; and forming an electrode on the insulating film in a region in which the recess is formed. |
| US08637903B2 |
Compound semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same
An AlN layer (2), a GaN buffer layer (3), a non-doped AlGaN layer (4a), an n-type AlGaN layer (4b), an n-type GaN layer (5), a non-doped AlN layer (6) and an SiN layer (7) are sequentially formed on an SiC substrate (1). At least three openings are formed in the non-doped AlN layer (6) and the SiN layer (7), and a source electrode (8a), a drain electrode (8b) and a gate electrode (19) are evaporated in these openings. |
| US08637901B2 |
Low-defect density gallium nitride semiconductor structures and devices thereof
A low-defect gallium nitride structure including a first gallium nitride layer comprising a plurality of gallium nitride columns etched into the first gallium nitride layer and a first dislocation density; and a second gallium nitride layer that extends over the gallium nitride columns and comprises a second dislocation density, wherein the second dislocation density may be lower than the first dislocation density. In addition, a method for fabricating a gallium nitride semiconductor layer that includes masking an underlying gallium nitride layer with a mask that comprises an array of columns and growing the underlying gallium nitride layer through the columns and onto said mask using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition pendeo-epitaxy to thereby form a pendeo-epitaxial gallium nitride layer coalesced on said mask to form a continuous pendeo-epitaxial monocrystalline gallium nitride semiconductor layer. |
| US08637900B2 |
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) structure
A structure includes first and second silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs) formed in a substrate. The first and the second SCRs each include at least one component commonly shared between the first and the second SCRs. |
| US08637897B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device having multi-cell array and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a substrate and a plurality of light emitting cells arranged on the substrate. Each of the light emitting cells includes a first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer, a second-conductivity-type semiconductor layer, and an active layer disposed therebetween to emit blue light. An interconnection structure electrically connects the first-conductivity-type and the second-conductivity-type semiconductor layers of one light emitting cell to the first-conductivity-type and the second-conductivity-type semiconductor layers of another light emitting cell. A light conversion part is formed in a light emitting region defined by the light emitting cells and includes a red and/or a green light conversion part respectively having a red and/or a green light conversion material. |
| US08637892B2 |
LED package and method for manufacturing same
According to one embodiment, an LED package includes first and second lead frames, an LED chip and a resin body. The first and second lead frames are apart from each other. The LED chip is provided above the first and second lead frames, the LED chip includes a semiconductor layer which contains at least indium, gallium and aluminum, one terminal of the LED chip is connected to the first lead frame, and another terminal of the LED chip is connected to the second lead frame. The resin body covers the LED chip and an entire upper surface, a part of a lower surface, and parts of edge surfaces of each of the first and second lead frames, and the resin body exposes a rest of the lower surface and a rest of the edge surfaces. And, an appearance of the resin body is a part of an appearance of the LED package. |
| US08637886B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting element
A semiconductor light emitting element includes: a light emitting layer and a p-type semiconductor layer laminated on an n-type semiconductor layer; a transparent conductive layer laminated on the p-type semiconductor layer; a transparent insulating layer laminated on the transparent conductive layer and the exposed n-type semiconductor layer, the transparent insulating layer having plural tapered through-holes formed therein; a p-electrode formed on the transparent conductive layer with the transparent insulating layer interposed therebetween, the p-electrode being connected to the transparent conductive layer via the through-holes provided for the transparent insulating layer; and an n-electrode formed on the n-type semiconductor layer with the transparent insulating layer interposed therebetween, the n-electrode being connected to the n-type semiconductor layer via the through-holes provided for the transparent insulating layer. |
| US08637885B2 |
Light emitting device, light emitting device package, method of manufacturing light emitting device and lighting system
A light emitting device according to the embodiment includes a conductive support member; a light emitting structure on the conductive support member including a first conductive semiconductor layer, a second conductive semiconductor layer, and an active layer between the first and second semiconductor layers; and a protective device on the light emitting structure. |
| US08637874B2 |
White light emitting diode (LED) lighting device driven by pulse current
A white LED lighting device driven by a pulse current is provided, which consists of blue, violet or ultraviolet LED chips, blue afterglow luminescence materials A and yellow luminescence materials B. Wherein the weight ratio of the blue afterglow luminescence materials A to the yellow luminescence materials B is 10-70 wt %:30-90 wt %. The white LED lighting device drives the LED chips with a pulse current having a frequency of not less than 50 Hz. Because of using the afterglow luminescence materials, the light can be sustained when an excitation light source disappears, thereby eliminating the influence of LED light output fluctuation caused by current variation on the illumination. At the same time, the pulse current can keep the LED chips being at an intermittent work state, so as to overcome the problem of chip heating. |
| US08637872B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A high-performance semiconductor device capable of suppressing a leak current with little electric field concentration, reducing an invalid region in a PN junction region, securing a sufficient area for a Schottky junction region, and achieving efficient and easy manufacturing, in which, in one surface of a semiconductor substrate (1) having a first conduction type made of SiC, a PN junction region (7a) and a Schottky junction region (7b) are provided, in the PN junction region (7a), a convex portion (2a) which has a trapezoidal shape in sectional view and includes a second conduction type layer (2) provided on the semiconductor substrate (1) and a contact layer (3) which is in ohmic contact with the second conduction type layer (2) of the convex portion (2a) are provided, and Schottky electrode (4) covers the side surface of the convex portion (2a) and the contact layer (3), and is provided continuously over the PN junction region (7a) and the Schottky junction region (7b). |
| US08637870B2 |
Three-dimensional memory device incorporating segmented array line memory array
A three-dimensional (3D) high density memory array includes multiple layers of segmented bit lines (i.e., sense lines) with segment switch devices within the memory array that connect the segments to global bit lines. The segment switch devices reside on one or more layers of the integrated circuit, preferably residing on each bit line layer. The global bit lines reside preferably on one layer below the memory array, but may reside on more than one layer. The bit line segments preferably share vertical connections to an associated global bit line. In certain EEPROM embodiments, the array includes multiple layers of segmented bit lines with segment connection switches on multiple layers and shared vertical connections to a global bit line layer. Such memory arrays may be realized with much less write-disturb effects for half selected memory cells, and may be realized with a much smaller block of cells to be erased. |
| US08637868B2 |
Thin-film transistor array substrate, organic light emitting display device including the same, and method of manufacturing the same
A TFT array substrate including: a thin-film transistor including an active layer, gate, source and drain electrodes, a first insulation layer between the active layer and the gate electrode, and a second insulation layer between the gate and the source and drain electrodes; a pixel electrode on the first and second insulation layers, and connected to one of the source and drain electrodes; a capacitor including a first electrode on the same layer as the gate electrode, a second electrode formed of the same material as the pixel electrode, a first protection layer on the second electrode, and a second protection layer on the first protection layer; a third insulation layer between the second insulation layer and the pixel electrode, and between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a fourth insulation layer covering the source and drain electrodes and the second protection layer, and exposing the pixel electrode. |
| US08637860B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device, production method thereof, photosensor, imaging device and their drive methods
A photoelectric conversion device comprising a transparent electrically conductive film, a photoelectric conversion film and an electrically conductive film in this order, wherein the photoelectric conversion film comprises a photoelectric conversion layer, and an electron blocking layer, wherein the electron blocking layer contains a compound represented by the specific formula. |
| US08637848B2 |
Single crystal group III nitride articles and method of producing same by HVPE method incorporating a polycrystalline layer for yield enhancement
In a method for making a GaN article, an epitaxial nitride layer is deposited on a single-crystal substrate. A 3D nucleation GaN layer is grown on the epitaxial nitride layer by HVPE under a substantially 3D growth mode. A GaN transitional layer is grown on the 3D nucleation layer by HVPE under a condition that changes the growth mode from the substantially 3D growth mode to a substantially 2D growth mode. A bulk GaN layer is grown on the transitional layer by HVPE under the substantially 2D growth mode. A polycrystalline GaN layer is grown on the bulk GaN layer to form a GaN/substrate bi-layer. The GaN/substrate bi-layer may be cooled from the growth temperature to an ambient temperature, wherein GaN material cracks laterally and separates from the substrate, forming a free-standing article. |
| US08637847B2 |
Memory cells having a plurality of heaters
Resistive memory cells having a plurality of heaters and methods of operating and forming the same are described herein. As an example, a resistive memory cell may include a resistance variable material located between a first electrode and a second electrode, a first heater coupled to a first portion of the resistance variable material, a second heater coupled to a second portion of the resistance variable material, a third heater coupled to a third portion of resistance variable material, and a conductive material coupled to the first, second, and third heaters. |
| US08637845B2 |
Optimized electrodes for Re-RAM
Optimized electrodes for ReRAM memory cells and methods for forming the same are discloses. One aspect comprises forming a first electrode, forming a state change element in contact with the first electrode, treating the state change element, and forming a second electrode. Treating the state change element increases the barrier height at the interface between the second electrode and the state change element. Another aspect comprises forming a first electrode in a manner to deliberately establish a certain degree of amorphization in the first electrode, forming a state change element in contact with the first electrode. The degree of amorphization of the first electrode is either at least as great as the degree of amorphization of the state change element or no more than 5 percent less than the degree of amorphization of the state change element. |
| US08637840B2 |
EUV projection lens and optic system having the same
An EUV projection lens includes a substrate and concentric diffraction patterns on the substrate. The concentric diffraction patterns have an out-of phase height with respect to EUV light and include a material through which the EUV light has a transmittance higher than about 50% at the out-of phase height. The EUV projection lens has a high first order diffraction light efficiency and an optic system having the EUV projection lens has a high resolution. |
| US08637838B2 |
System and method for ion implantation with improved productivity and uniformity
A scanning system including a scanning element, a beam profiler, analysis system, and a ZFE-limiting element, is disclosed. The scanning element is configured to scan an ion beam over an ion beam scan path. The beam profiler measures beam current of the ion beam as it is scanned over the ion beam scan path, and the analysis system analyzes the measured beam current to detect a ZFE condition. The ZFE-limiting element, which is upstream of the beam profiler and is coupled to the analysis system via a feedback path, is configured to selectively apply an electric field to the scanned ion beam based on whether the ZFE condition is detected. The selectively applied electric field induces a change in the scanned beam to limit the ZFE condition. |
| US08637837B2 |
Charged particle irradiation system and method for controlling the same
A beam extraction process (interruption and restart) is appropriately performed when a failure occurs during irradiation of a spot group. A charged particle irradiation system includes a synchrotron 12 and a scanning irradiation unit 15 that scans an ion beam extracted from the synchrotron over a subject. The extraction of the ion beam from the synchrotron is stopped on the basis of a beam extraction stop command. Scanning magnets 5A and 5B are controlled to change a point (spot) to be irradiated with the ion beam, while the extraction of the ion beam is stopped. The extraction of the ion beam from the synchrotron is restarted after the change of the spot to be irradiated. When a relatively minor failure in which continuous irradiation would be possible occurs during irradiation of a certain spot with the beam, the extraction of the beam is not immediately stopped. |
| US08637833B2 |
Synchrotron power supply apparatus and method of use thereof
The invention comprises a charged particle cancer therapy system or synchrotron system using a single power supply electrically connected to a plurality of magnet sections to provide a uniform current to a plurality of magnets at a given period in time. Optionally, one or more switches introduce a corresponding one or more resistors into a circuit linking the power supply to a magnet or an inductor during an applied power recovery phase between acceleration cycles of the synchrotron, which reduces time of reduction in power from an active applied power to a power suitable for use with a subsequent injection of charged particles into the synchrotron. |
| US08637831B2 |
Hybrid organic photodiode
An x-ray detector that is suitable for both imaging and dose rate measurement has a hybrid photoactive layer arranged between an electrode and a substrate. The hybrid photoactive layer includes a number of scintillators as well as a bulk heterojunction and is designed to produce indirect x-ray conversion. The bulk heterojunction absorbs the scintillator radiation to form electron-hole pairs that are detected electrically. The production takes place by a spraying process, in particular a co-spraying process of bulk heterojunction solution and scintillator particle suspension. |
| US08637830B2 |
Radiation image conversion panel and method for producing same
In a radiation image conversion panel (10), a radiation conversion layer (2) for converting an incident radiation into light is formed on a substrate (1). The radiation conversion layer (2) has a reflective layer (3), on a side opposite from a light exit surface (2a) for emitting the light, for reflecting the light to the exit surface (2a) side, while the reflective layer (3) has a helical structure comprising helically stacked phosphor crystals. Thus constructed radiation image conversion panel (10) can enhance the reflectance without forming a reflective layer made of a thin metal film or the like and exhibit a reflectance higher than that in the case where the reflective layer is formed by spherical crystal particles. |
| US08637825B2 |
Scintillator crystal body, method for manufacturing the same, and radiation detector
In a scintillator used for radiation detection, such as an X-ray CT scanner, a scintillation crystal body having a unidirectional phase separation structure is provided which has a light guide function for crosstalk prevention without using partitions. The phase separation structure includes a first crystal phase and a second crystal phase having a refractive index larger than that of the first crystal phase and which have a first principal surface and a second principal surface, these principal surfaces being not located on the same plane, the first principal surface and the second principal surface have portions to which the second crystal phase is exposed, and a portion of the second crystal phase exposed to the first principal surface and a portion of the second crystal phase exposed to the second principal surface are connected to each other. |
| US08637824B2 |
Cold shield for a cold stage
In certain embodiments, a system may include a sensor platform, a cold shield, and a support system. The sensor platform supports a sensor system. The cold shield allows first radiation to reach the sensor system and prevents second radiation from reaching the sensor system. The support system is coupled to the cold shield and the platform, and supports the cold shield and maintains a separation between the cold shield and the platform. |
| US08637813B2 |
System and method for laser assisted sample transfer to solution for chemical analysis
A system and method for laser desorption of an analyte from a specimen and capturing of the analyte in a suspended solvent to form a testing solution are described. The method can include providing a specimen supported by a desorption region of a specimen stage and desorbing an analyte from a target site of the specimen with a laser beam centered at a radiation wavelength (λ). The desorption region is transparent to the radiation wavelength (λ) and the sampling probe and a laser source emitting the laser beam are on opposite sides of a primary surface of the specimen stage. The system can also be arranged where the laser source and the sampling probe are on the same side of a primary surface of the specimen stage. The testing solution can then be analyzed using an analytical instrument or undergo further processing. |
| US08637812B2 |
Sample excitation apparatus and method for spectroscopic analysis
Sample excitation apparatus for a spectrometric analyzer, the apparatus comprising a sample introduction stage comprising an electrospray nebulizer for generating a nebulized sample; and a sample excitation stage arranged to operate in an atmospheric pressure environment and to receive and excite the nebulized sample in a sample excitation region for spectrometric analysis thereof. ‘Excitation’ includes ionization in ICP and MIP, flame excitation in AES, and optical excitation in AAS. For example, analyte solution (38) is fed out of the outlet end of a capillary (30,40,60,96), to a plasma source. A potential difference is applied between the capillary, its outlet end or the analyte solution and an opposing effective (counter) electrode, which may comprise a tube (64), a grid (80), or the plasma (34) itself, to promote formation of smaller droplets (46). The pressure of the plasma source is similar to the pressure in the region of the capillary outlet end. |
| US08637811B2 |
Stabilized electron multiplier anode
Methods and systems to compensate for distortions created by dynamic voltage applied to an electron multiplier used in mass spectrometry. An electron multiplier has a cathode end accepting ion flow, an opposite emitter end and an interior surface. The electron multiplier produces an electron output from ions colliding with the interior surface. A variable power supply has a voltage output coupled to the cathode end and the emitter end of the electron multiplier. The voltage output changes dynamically to adjust the electron output from the electron multiplier. An anode is located in proximity to the electron multiplier. An electrometer is coupled to the anode in proximity to the electron multiplier to measure the current generated by the electron output. A low pass filter circuit is coupled to the emitter end to the ground of the electrometer to attenuate emitter voltage changes. A bias circuit is coupled to the emitter end to stabilize emitter to anode voltage difference. |
| US08637809B2 |
Tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer
All data obtained from an A/D converter during a summation period with values exceeding a prescribed threshold is excluded from summation up to a prescribed maximum number of deletions, and the values of the remaining data are summed to find one piece of measurement data corresponding to that summation period. The number of pieces of noise data reflecting the influx of particles that cause spike-like noise is extremely small, so noise data is removed in a state in which there are no signals and no target ions are present. When target ions are present, legitimate data which is not noise data may be removed, but the number of pieces of removed data is small in comparison to the total number of pieces of data, so the effects of the removal of legitimate data essentially do not emerge in the summation results. It is therefore possible to effectively reduce spike-like noise. |
| US08637802B2 |
Photosensor, semiconductor device including photosensor, and light measurement method using photosensor
An object is to provide a photosensor utilizing an oxide semiconductor in which a refreshing operation is unnecessary, a semiconductor device provided with the photosensor, and a light measurement method utilizing the photosensor. It is found that a constant gate current can be obtained by applying a gate voltage in a pulsed manner to a transistor including a channel formed using an oxide semiconductor, and this is applied to a photosensor. Since a refreshing operation of the photosensor is unnecessary, it is possible to measure the illuminance of light with small power consumption through a high-speed and easy measurement procedure. A transistor utilizing an oxide semiconductor having a relatively high mobility, a small S value, and a small off-state current can form a photosensor; therefore, a multifunction semiconductor device can be obtained through a small number of steps. |
| US08637798B2 |
Integrated reference source and target designator system for high-precision guidance of guided munitions
A method for determining a position of a device in a reference coordinate system. The method including: receiving, at the device, less than all of GPS signals necessary to determine the position of the device in the reference coordinate system; transmitting a signal from aν illuminating source defined in the reference coordinate system; receiving the signal at a cavity waveguide disposed on the device; and determining the position of the device in the reference coordinate system based on the GPS signals and the signal received in the cavity waveguide. The signal received in the cavity waveguide can also be used to confirm a position determined by the GPS signals. |
| US08637796B2 |
Electrical heating device and heat generating element of an electrical heating device
An electrical heating device includes at least one heat generating element and at least one heat emitting element having opposed surfaces that abut the heat generating element. The heat generating element includes at least one PTC heating element having strip conductors on both sides of it for the electrical supply of the PTC heating element At least one of the strip conductor is provided with at least one contact projection which protrudes beyond a PTC heating element locating face formed on the strip conductor. Also disclosed is a heat generating element having at least one strip conductor provided with at least one contact projection. |
| US08637795B2 |
Self-configuring flexible heater
In general, this disclosure describes example techniques for a flexible heater system to automatically configure itself to operate over different input supply voltages. The flexible heater system may include a flexible heater that includes a first heater element and a second heater element. The flexible heater system may also include a switch circuit that may automatically couple the first heater element and the second heater element in a first configuration when an input supply voltage is at a first voltage level. The switch circuit may also automatically couple the first heater element and the second heater element in a second configuration when the input supply voltage is at a second voltage level. |
| US08637793B2 |
Electric oven
An electric oven has an air passage structure that is designed to effectively cool down electric components. The air passage structure quickly cools down a variety of electric components on a top surface of a cavity using air introduced from outside the oven. The oven has a series of passages and openings allowing the effective movement of air past the electric components and through the oven. |
| US08637786B2 |
Method and apparatus for high power density plasma cutting system
A system and method for providing a high power density plasma cutting/welding-type system is disclosed. The plasma cutting system includes a housing and a power source disposed within the housing constructed to generate plasma cutting power. The plasma cutting system also includes a plasma torch actuated by a trigger and connected to the power source to produce a cutting arc. The plasma cutting system is constructed such that it has a power-to-weight ratio of at least 550 Watts per kilogram (W/kg). |
| US08637776B2 |
Conductive pattern and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a conductive pattern, comprising the steps of: a) forming a conductive film on a substrate; b) forming an etching resist pattern on the conductive film; and c) forming a conductive pattern having a smaller line width than a width of the etching resist pattern by over-etching the conductive film by using the etching resist pattern, and a conductive pattern manufactured by using the same. According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to effectively and economically provide a conductive pattern having a ultrafine line width. |
| US08637775B2 |
Printed circuit board and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a printed circuit board, including: a substrate; a first circuit layer formed on the substrate; a first insulation layer formed on the first circuit layer and having a pattern corresponding to that of the first circuit layer; and a second insulation layer formed on the substrate such that the second insulation layer surrounds the first circuit layer and the first insulation layer formed on the first circuit layer. The printed circuit board is advantageous in that process time and process cost can be reduced because a first insulation layer is used as an etching resist and is included as a part of a printed circuit board even after etching. |
| US08637774B2 |
Tracer wire connector kits
A ready to use tracer wire connector kit comprising a pod and cover that can be mated together around a tracer wire connector that can be retained in the pod or removed from the pod as the tracer wires are joined therein with the pod and cover encapsulating and protecting the junction of tracer wires in the tracer wire connector and a method and system wherein underground difficult to detect devices and systems can be indirectly located. |
| US08637772B2 |
Electric cord securing device and methods of use thereof
An electric cord securing device includes an attaching member and a securing member coupled to a body. The attaching member, during use, attaches the body to a selected location on the exterior of a electric cord. The securing member, during use, secures the body to an external structure or at least one other portion of the electric cord. Additionally, an electric cord includes at least one flexible conductor encased by a insulating sheath. One or more securing members are disposed on the exterior of the sheath. The securing members secure the portion of the cord proximate the securing member to at least one other portion of the electric cord or an external structure. |
| US08637771B1 |
Electromotive coil with improved conductor packing ratio
The disclosed invention describes a motor/generator coil produced using rectangular electric current conductors of any thickness and width. A unique joint between the up and down segments of the coil turn enables an improved conductor packing ratio and geometrical orientation that minimizes the effect of eddy currents. The resulting coil produces higher power than typical wire wound motors but is lighter weight and physically smaller in size. In addition, the coil can be free-standing, and is capable of slotless and/or ironless core device configuration. |
| US08637769B2 |
Field-controlled composite insulator and method for producing the composite insulator
A field-controlled composite insulator uses materials which are greatly stressed by an inhomogeneous distribution of an electrical field across a surface thereof. One of the causes thereof is the structural configuration of the insulator. The field strength changes particularly in a region of fittings due to a transition from insulating materials of sheds and an insulator core to a metal material, due to a transition from ground potential at cross members or to a conductor potential at that location, where conductor cables are attached. A further cause is deposits of dirt, which stress an insulator overall. A field control layer is therefore disposed between the core and the protective layer in at least one section of the insulator. The control layer includes particles as a filler, which influence the electrical field of the insulator. A method for producing the composite insulator is also provided. |
| US08637767B2 |
Anti-theft devices for electrical wires
A first device useful as a support base for utility poles, which integrates an anti-theft security system directed to prevent theft of power supply wires used in underground power distribution systems. The security system includes a dual internal conduit system for housing the wires and at least two head bolts inserted in an individual lateral straight conduit. Similarly, a second device includes a mold having an inverted T-shaped housing for the wires and a head bolt inside the upright conduit section of said inverted T-shaped housing. In both devices, the wires are moved in an angled position and secured by tightening the corresponding bolt. |
| US08637765B2 |
Single junction type cigs thin film solar cell and method for manufacturing the thin film solar cell
Provided is a single junction type CIGS thin film solar cell, which includes a CIGS light absorption layer manufactured using a single junction. The single junction type CIGS thin film solar cell includes a substrate, a back contact deposited on the substrate, a light absorption layer deposited on the back contact and including a P type CIGS layer and an N type CIGS layer coupled to the P type CIGS layer using a single junction, and a reflection prevention film deposited on the light absorption layer. |
| US08637763B2 |
Solar cells with engineered spectral conversion
A solar cell with engineered spectral conversion elements or components includes a single crystal silicon solar cell having a back surface. At least one spectral conversion element is formed on the back surface. The conversion element includes single crystal rare earth oxide, and the single crystal rare earth oxide is crystal lattice matched to the back surface of the silicon solar cell. Material including silicon is formed on the back surface in a surrounding and embedding relationship to the at least one spectral conversion element. A back reflector is positioned on the material formed on the back surface so as to reflect light passing through the silicon formed on the back surface. |
| US08637760B2 |
Compact photovoltaic generation assembly and power supply
A compact photovoltaic generation assembly exhibiting improved photovoltaic efficiency and an extended operating life as compared to conventional photovoltaic systems is described. The assembly can also include a power supply for use at times when light energy is not readily available. |
| US08637756B1 |
Multi-layered brass and woodwind instrument cover
A multi-layered instrument cover protects an instrument against damage. The cover can encapsulate the instrument fully assembled, so that a user only has to remove the cover to utilize the instrument. The cover includes multiple layers that provide various functions. An inner layer is fabricated from a soft material suitable for contacting the instrument. An intermediate layer overlays the inner layer, and has sufficient rigidity to provide protection and a shape to the cover. The shape of the cover can conform to the instrument. An exterior layer provides an exterior surface that can be decorative and also help to identify the instrument. The exterior layer and the intermediate layer can be sewn onto the inner layer. Pouches on the exterior layer contain instrument components such as mouth pieces, tuners, and sheet music. A handle on the exterior layer orients and positions the cover on and/or off the instrument. |
| US08637755B2 |
Keyboard device for electronic musical instrument
A keyboard device includes hammers 16w,16b that rock with the rocking movement of plural white and black keys 11w,11b. The plural white and black keys 11w,11b include drive units that drive the hammers 16w,16b. The drive unit is provided anterior or posterior to a front end of the key. A positional relationship between a plane including a key support portion of each white key 11w and black key 11b and the front end of the white key 11w and black key 11b, and a top face of each white key 11w and black key 11b is set such that the top faces of the plural white keys 11w and black key 11b are located on the same plane, when the rocking angles of the plural white keys 11w and black key 11b reach a predetermined angle respectively. |
| US08637754B2 |
Systems and methods for rotating the bell of a musical instrument
A rotation device is adapted to be installed between the bell of a musical wind instrument and the body of the musical instrument. One or more rotational devices may be controlled by the musician or someone else while the musician is performing and/or playing the instrument. The rotation device may control the speed of rotation, the direction of rotation, and the amount of travel of rotation. The amount of travel of rotation of the bell may be more than and/or equal to and/or less than a 360 degree rotation. |
| US08637751B1 |
Maize variety hybrid X85A667
A novel maize variety designated X85A667 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 X85A667 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X85A667 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X85A667, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X85A667. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X85A667. |
| US08637747B1 |
Maize variety hybrid X08B813
A novel maize variety designated X08B813 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 X08B813 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08B813 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08B813, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08B813. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08B813. |
| US08637743B1 |
Soybean variety XBP05003
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP05003 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP05003, cells from soybean variety XBP05003, plants of soybean XBP05003, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP05003. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP05003 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XBP05003, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP05003, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XBP05003. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP05003 are further provided. |
| US08637739B2 |
Anti-nematode peptides and methods of use thereof
The invention provides novel polypeptides, and variants and fragments thereof, having pesticidal activity against nematodes. Particular embodiments of the invention provide isolated nucleic acids encoding pesticidal proteins, biopesticide compositions, expression cassettes, and transformed microorganisms and plants comprising a nucleic acid of the invention. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant parasitic nematodes. |
| US08637738B2 |
Glyphosate-tolerant wheat genotypes
The present invention provides methods for producing glyphosate-tolerant wheat genotypes by mutagenesis, glyphosate wheat plants produced by such methods, and related compositions and methods. |
| US08637733B2 |
Plant membrane bound O-acyl transferase (MBOAT) family protein sequences and their uses for altering fatty acid compositions
This invention is in the field of biotechnology, in particular, this pertains to polynucleotide sequences encoding membrane bound O-acyltransferase genes and the use of these acyltransferases for altering fatty acid profiles in oilseed plants. Methods for increasing elongation and desaturation conversion efficiencies are also disclosed. |
| US08637732B2 |
Plant MYB transcription factor homologs
This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a Myb-related transcription factor. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the Myb-related transcription factor, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the Myb-related transcription factor in a transformed host cell. |
| US08637730B1 |
Maize variety hybrid X05A935
A novel maize variety designated X05A935 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 X05A935 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X05A935 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X05A935, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X05A935. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X05A935. |
| US08637728B2 |
Non-woven material for use as a body facing sheet in an absorbent article
A nonwoven material including at least two layers integrated into each other, for use as a body facing sheet in an absorbent article. The first layer includes spunlaid filaments and the second layer includes staple fibers. The staple fibers have a thickness ≦1.5 dtex, and the filaments have a thickness ≧2.5 dtex. Further, an absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, panty liner, incontinence protector or diaper can include the nonwoven material as a body facing sheet. |
| US08637723B2 |
Process for the activation of a copper-, zinc- and zirconium oxide-comprising adsorption composition
The invention relates to a process for the activation of a copper, zinc and zirconium oxide-comprising adsorption composition for the adsorptive removal of carbon monoxide from substance streams comprising carbon monoxide and at least one olefin wherein (i) in a first activation step an activation gas mixture comprising the olefin and an inert gas is passed through the adsorption composition, and (ii) in a second activation step the adsorption composition is heated to a temperature in the range from 180 to 300° C. and an inert gas is passed through it, wherein the steps (i) and (ii) can each be performed several times. |
| US08637719B2 |
Catalyst comprising palladium and its application in selective hydrogenation
The invention concerns a catalyst comprising a porous support, palladium, at least one metal selected from the group constituted by alkalis and alkaline-earths, in which: the specific surface area of the porous support is in the range 50 to 210 m2/g; the palladium content in the catalyst is in the range 0.05% to 2% by weight; at least 80% by weight of the palladium is distributed in a crust at the periphery of the support, the thickness of said crust being in the range 20 to 200 μm; the metallic dispersion D is in the range 25% to 70%; the density of the palladium particles in the crust is in the range 1500 to 4100 particles of palladium per μm2; and said alkali and/or alkaline-earth metal is distributed homogeneously across the support. The invention also concerns the preparation of the catalyst and its use in selective hydrogenation. |
| US08637718B2 |
Biomass to biochar conversion in subcritical water
A method and system of converting biomass to biochar in a hydrothermal carbonization apparatus wherein subcritical water at a temperature of 230-350° C. and 500-3000 psi is reacted with the biomass to form biochar, biocrude and gases. The method and system include recycling the biocrude back to the hydrothermal carbonization apparatus which improves biochar yield and provides water for the biomass reaction to occur. |
| US08637708B2 |
Process for preparing cinacalcet
A process for preparing N-[(1R)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl]-3-[3-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl]propan-1-amine of formula hydrochloride salt of formula (I) i.e. Cinacalcet.HCl and its intermediate of formula (IX) |
| US08637702B2 |
Derivatives of N-hydroxybenzamide for treating HIV infections
Compound selected from 4-(2(S)-benzoylamino-3-naphthalen-2-yl-propionylamino)-N-hydroxy-benzamide and benzo[1,3]dioxole-5-carboxylic acid [1(S)-(4-hydroxycarbamoyl-phenylcarbamoyl)-2-naphthalen-2-yl-ethyl]-amide, for use in the treatment of a HIV infection. The compound is administered in combination and/or in temporal proximity with at least one anti-retroviral agent. |
| US08637695B2 |
Synthesis of organohalosilane monomers from conventionally uncleavable Direct Process Residue
Disclosed herein is a catalytic process for the synthesis of organohalosilane monomers from tetraorganodihalodisilanes and other compounds that are not cleaved during the conventional hydrochlorination of Direct Process Residue. The process is characterized by the use of a catalyst containing (1) one or more heterocyclic amines and/or one or more heterocyclic ammonium halides, and (2) one or more quaternary Group 15 onium compounds. |
| US08637692B2 |
Process for preparation of 1,2-diamino-cyclohexane-platinum (II) complexes
The present invention is directed to a manufacturing process for 1,2-diamino-cyclohexane-platinum(II) complexes, specifically to a manufacturing process for oxaliplatin.The process is straightforward, economical and applicable to industrial production. It comprises the reaction of (DACH)PtCl2 with silver sulfate (Ag2SO4) and the subsequent reaction of the resulting Pt sulfate complex (DACH)Pt(aq)2SO4 with barium oxalate (BaC2O4) or an equimolar mixture of barium hydroxide and oxalic acid to yield oxaliplatin in high purity with a low silver and low nitrate content. |
| US08637691B2 |
Polymerization catalysts for producing polymers with low melt elasticity
The present techniques relate to catalyst compositions, methods, and polymers encompassing a Group 4 metallocene compound comprising bridging η5-cyclopentadienyl-type ligands, typically in combination with a cocatalyst, and a activator. The compositions and methods presented herein include ethylene polymers with low melt elasticity. |
| US08637690B2 |
Hybrid organic-inorganic material IM-19 and method of preparing same
The invention relates to a novel hybrid organic-inorganic material containing an inorganic network of metal centers based on the element gallium, connected to each other by organic bridges, to the preparation and to the use thereof. The invention also relates to an intermediate solid obtained during the synthesis of said hybrid organic-inorganic material. |
| US08637689B2 |
Catalytic processes for preparing estolide base oils
Provided herein are processes for preparing estolides and estolide base oils from fatty acid reactants utilizing catalysts. Further provided herein are processes for preparing carboxylic esters from at least one carboxylic acid reactant and at least one olefin. |
| US08637688B2 |
Topical dosage form comprising tri-substituted glycerol compounds
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical dosage forms for topical administration comprising a tri-substituted glycerol compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The invention also relates to a corresponding method for preparing such dosage forms as well as to their use as medicaments for the treatment of cancer and immune diseases. |
| US08637687B2 |
Process for making amides
Provided are processes for making an amide of a carboxylic acid by reacting an amine of the formula (I) H—NR1R2 (I) wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different, R1 comprising a C1-C4-alkyl, and R2 comprising hydrogen or a C1-C4-alkyl, the amine having a lower boiling point than water, with a carboxylic acid with at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule, said carboxylic acid optionally comprising at least one alcoholic hydroxyl group per molecule, and selecting a molar ratio of amine to carboxylic acid in the range of from 1.5:1 to 1:1. The reaction step occurs under temperature and pressure conditions at which water and amine according to formula (I) are gaseous, and in a single reactor, the water formed together with any unreacted amine is distilled off, any unreacted amine is separated from the water and said the unreacted amine is reintroduced into the reaction mixture. |
| US08637683B2 |
Macrocyclic lactone derivatives for the treatment of cancer
The present invention provides compounds represented by formula (1): wherein, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in the specification, in all their stereoisomeric and tautomeric forms and mixtures thereof in all ratios, and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, pharmaceutically acceptable polymorphs and prodrugs. The invention also relates to processes for the manufacture of compounds of formula (1) and pharmaceutical compositions containing them. The compounds and the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are useful for the treatment of cancer. The present invention further provides a method of treatment of cancer by administering a therapeutically effective amount of the said compound of formula (1) or its pharmaceutical composition, to a mammal in need thereof. |
| US08637680B2 |
Dye-sensitized solar cell, photoelectric conversion element, and dye for use in the solar cell and the element
Provided are a squarylium dye having a carboxyindolenine structure and an N-alkyl substituent, and a photoelectric conversion element having high photoelectric conversion efficiency in a near-infrared region and a dye-sensitized solar cell, both of which are produced using the squarylium dye. The photoelectric conversion element or dye-sensitized solar cell uses a compound represented by the formula (1) as the squarylium dye. In the formula (1), R1 and R2 represent a substituted or unsubstituted C5 to C30 alkyl group; X represents C(CH3)2; and A and B represent a carboxy group. |
| US08637679B2 |
Process for the isolation of organic compounds useful for the treatment of cancer
The present invention relates to two main components, mahanine and mahanimbine (dehydroxy-mahanine) from Murraya koenigii for the treatment of glioblastoma and cervical carcinoma. Mahanimbine exhibited anti-cancer activity against lymphoid leukemia, myeloid leukemia, glioma, cervical carcinoma, pancreatic, colon and lung cancers in nineteen cells of different genetic status. C-3 hydroxy and NH groups are responsible contributing groups for their cytotoxicity. Mahanine reduced the doses of cisplatin and paclitaxel in cervical cancer showing better efficacy and useful as an adjunct chemotherapeutic agent to reduce toxicity these two drugs. A new cheap process for this preparation was established. EtOAc extract containing alkaloids enriched with mahanimbine and mahanine, is active against glioma and cervical cancers. Mahanine is targeting the chaperone Hsp90 which led to the proteasome-dependent degradation of several Hsp90-client proteins in diverse carcinoma types, glioblastoma, cervical carcinoma and pancreatic adenocarcinoma irrespective of their tissue origins thereby killing the cancer cells. |
| US08637678B2 |
Methods for the preparation of aryl amides
The present invention relates to methods of initiating a reaction represented by scheme (1), wherein Q is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl; X is halogen or a sulphonate; P is an organic radical; R is hydrogen or an organic radical; wherein the catalyst comprises copper and a ligand; comprising providing the compound of formula III in liquid form prior to contacting the compound of formula III with the catalyst. |
| US08637677B2 |
Organic dicarboxylic acids, salts and preparation method thereof
Organic dicarboxylic acid compounds, salts and preparation methods thereof are described. The compounds have activity of resisting oxidation damage to crystalline lens of eyes. The structures of the above organic dicarboxylic acid compounds are shown as wherein R is a hydrogen atom, a C1-3 alkyl group, a C1-3 alkoxyl group, or a halogen atom. |
| US08637676B2 |
Dual-acting benzoimidazole antihypertensive agents
The invention is directed to compounds having the formula: wherein: Ar, r, n, X, R2-3 and R5-7 are as defined in the specification, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These compounds have AT1 receptor antagonist activity and neprilysin inhibition activity. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and process and intermediates for preparing such compounds. |
| US08637675B2 |
Inhibitors of proliferation and activation of signal transducer and activators of transcription (STATS)
Pyridine compounds effective in modulation STAT3 and/or STAT5 activation are provided that are useful in the prevention and treatment of proliferative disease and conditions including cancer, inflammation and proliferative skin disorders. |
| US08637674B2 |
Pyrazole derivatives, preparation method thereof, and composition for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis containing same
The present invention provides pyrazole derivative compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds of the present invention have an excellent effect of preventing and treating osteoporosis. |
| US08637669B2 |
Production method for adefovir dipivoxil
The present invention relates to an improved method of preparing adefovir dipivoxil of Formula 1. The method of the present invention is characterized by using dimethylsulfoxide as a reaction solvent, and comprises a process of preparing adefovir dipivoxil of Formula 1 by allowing adefovir of Formula 2 to react with chloromethylpivalate at a reaction temperature of 30 to 50° C. under the presence of dimethylsulfoxide and triethylamine solvents. |
| US08637668B2 |
Process for preparing a cyclic tertiary methylamine
Process for preparing a cyclic tertiary methylamine of the formula I where A is a C4-alkylene group, a C5-alkylene group or a —(CH2)2—B—(CH2)2— group, where B is oxygen (O) or an N—R1 radical and R1 is C1-C5-alkyl, aryl or C5-C7-cycloalkyl, wherein an amino alcohol II from the group consisting of 1,4-aminobutanol, 1,5-aminopentanol, aminodiglycol (ADG) or aminoethylethanolamine of the formula IIa where R1 is as defined above or is hydrogen (H), in which case R1═CH3 in the amine I, is reacted with methanol in a reactor at a temperature in the range from 150 to 270° C. in the liquid phase in the presence of a copper-comprising heterogeneous catalyst. |
| US08637667B2 |
Method for preparing (S)-5-chloro-N-((3-(4-(5,6-dihydro-4H-1,2,4-oxadiazin-3-yl)phenyl)-2-oxooxazolidin-5-yl)methyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide derivatives
Provided is a method for preparing (S)-5-chloro-N-((3-(4-(5,6-dihydro-4H-1,2,4-oxadiazin-3-yl)phenyl)-2-oxooxazolidin-5-yl)methyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide derivatives of Formula (I) which are useful as blood coagulation factor Xa inhibitors, and said method using 1-fluoro-4-nitrobenzen as a starting material. According to the method of the present invention, (S)-5-chloro-N-((3-(4-(5,6-dihydro-4H-1,2,4-oxadiazin-3-yl)phenyl)-2-oxooxazolidin-5-yl)methyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide derivatives of Formula (I) which are useful as blood coagulation factor Xa inhibitors can be prepared in a high purity and a high yield. |
| US08637661B2 |
Conversion method
A process is described for the preparation of water-soluble cellulose hydrolysis product. The process comprise admixing cellulose with an ionic liquid capable of solvating or dissolving at least some of the cellulose, said ionic liquid being a compound comprises solely of cations and anions and which exists in a liquid state at a temperature at or below 150° C., and in which the anions are selected from halide and cyanate; and treating the resulting solvate or solution with an acid in the presence of water, said acid having a pKa in water of less than 2 at 25° C. |
| US08637660B2 |
Conversion method
A process for the preparation of water-soluble cellulose hydrolysis products, which comprises admixing cellulose with an ionic liquid in which the cellulose has at least some solubility, said ionic liquid state at a temperature at or below 150 -C, and treating the resulting solution with an acid in the presence of water, said acid having a pKa in water of less than 2 at 25 -C. |
| US08637659B2 |
Mono-and disaccharide derivatives
The present invention relates to a novel family of monosaccharide derivatives and disaccharide derivatives and to a method of preparation thereof. A mono- and disaccharide derivatives according to the invention comprises at least one fatty acid ester and may further comprise one or more anionic groups and are useful for, inter alia, medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food applications. |
| US08637657B2 |
Siderophore-mediated iron uptake in bacterial infection
The present invention relates to methods of inhibiting S. aureus comprising inhibiting siderophore-mediated iron uptake, for example, staphyloferrm-mediated iron uptake Such methods of inhibiting S. aureus include the inhibition of staphyloferrm A- and staphyloferrm B-mediated uptake either by inhibiting expression or activity of staphyloferrm A and B or by inhibiting transport of staphyloferrm A and B The methods as provided would be useful for treating S. aureus infection. |
| US08637653B2 |
Infectious plant viral vector and an artificial bipartite plant viral vector an infectious plant viral vector and an artificial bipartite plant viral vector
We have developed a versatile plant viral vector system based on Alternanthera mosaic virus (AltMV), suitable for infection by agroinfiltration or in vivo T7 transcripts from the same clone; agroinfection is enhanced by coinfiltration of a T7 RNA polymerase construct. Variants adapted for efficient protein expression, or for virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), are based on a specific amino acid substitution (L88P) in the triple gene block 1 (TGB1) protein affecting RNA silencing suppression. A bipartite delivery system developed for AltMV delivers replicase (RdRp) functions separately from movement and encapsidation (TGB and coat protein, CP) functions by agroinfiltration, resulting in precise recombination of RdRp and TGB-CP constructs in planta. The bipartite delivery system has potential for high throughput protein expression or VIGS with the appropriate TGB1 variant, for hosts including Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana. Equivalent TGB1 substitutions in other potexviruses also reduced RNA silencing suppression, demonstrated with Potato virus X. |
| US08637651B2 |
Protein production in microorganisms of the phylum labyrinthulomycota
The present invention relates to recombinant cells and microorganisms of the phylum Labyrinthulomycota and their use in heterologous protein production. Novel promoter, terminator, and signal sequences for efficient production and, optionally, secretion of polypeptides from recombinant host cells and microorganisms are also encompassed by the present invention. |
| US08637646B2 |
Growth hormone variants
The invention provides variants of human growth hormone having an amino acid substitution at amino acid residue R77, numbered from the N-terminus of 191-amino add human growth hormone as well as nucleic acid molecules encoding these variants. |
| US08637644B2 |
H5 subtype-specific binding proteins useful for H5 avian influenza diagnosis and surveillance
The invention provides monoclonal antibodies and related binding proteins that bind specifically to the envelope glycoprotein of H5 subtypes of avian influenza virus (“AIV”). The monoclonal antibodies and related binding proteins are useful for the detection of H5 subtypes of AIV, including the pathogenic H5N1 subtypes. Virus may be detected in formalin preserved, paraffin embedded specimens as well as frozen specimens and biological fluids. Accordingly, the invention provides for the diagnosis and surveillance of dangerous viral infections. |
| US08637640B2 |
Blood coagulation protein conjugates
The invention relates to materials and methods of conjugating a water soluble polymer to an oxidized carbohydrate moiety of a blood coagulation protein comprising contacting the oxidized carbohydrate moiety with an activated water soluble polymer under conditions that allow conjugation. More specifically, the present invention relates to the aforementioned materials and methods wherein the water soluble polymer contains an active aminooxy group and wherein an oxime linkage is formed between the oxidized carbohydrate moiety and the active aminooxy group on the water soluble polymer. In one embodiment of the invention the conjugation is carried out in the presence of the nucleophilic catalyst aniline. In addition the generated oxime linkage can be stabilized by reduction with NaCNBH3 to form an alkoxyamine linkage. |
| US08637639B2 |
Method and composition for crystallizing G protein-coupled receptors
Certain embodiments provide a method for crystallizing a GPCR. The method may employ a fusion protein comprising: a) a first portion of a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), where the first portion comprises the TM1, TM2, TM3, TM4 and TM5 regions of the GPCR; b) a stable, folded protein insertion; and c) a second portion of the GPCR, where the second portion comprises the TM6 and TM7 regions of the GPCR. |
| US08637638B2 |
Method and composition for altering a B cell mediated pathology
The present invention provides compositions for altering a B cell mediated pathology in a patient. The compositions may comprise at least one and/or two chimeric proteins. Each chimeric protein comprises at least a portion of either the VH or VL region of a immunoglobulin molecule from particular B cells from a patient having a B cell mediated pathology, and an immunoglobulin constant region. The genes encoding VH and/or VL regions and the genes encoding immunoglobulin constant regions are isolated and inserted in an expression vector. The chimeric proteins may be produced by introducing the expression vectors into insect cell lines. Proteins may be further purified and conjugated to a compound such as an immunogenic carrier. |
| US08637630B2 |
Thermoplastic resin with high thermal conductivity
Provided is a thermoplastic resin having excellent thermal conductivity, in which thermoplastic resin a change in number average molecular mass caused by progress of polymerization occurring when the thermoplastic resin material is melted and a change in thermal conductivity caused by the change in number average molecular mass are low. The thermoplastic resin has (A) a specific structure and (B) ends of molecular chains sealed by a monofunctional low molecular weight compound. The resin itself has excellent thermal conductivity. The change in number average molecular mass becomes small during melting of the thermoplastic resin material, so that the change in thermal conductivity of the resin itself becomes small. |
| US08637627B2 |
Phenoxyphenyl polysiloxane composition and method for making and using same
A curable phenoxyphenyl polysiloxane composition is disclosed. A cured phenoxyphenyl polysiloxane composition is further disclosed, along with a method of making that cured phenoxyphenyl polysiloxane composition from the curable phenoxyphenyl silicon composition. An encapsulated semiconductor device, and a method of making that encapsulated semiconductor device by coating a semiconductor element of a semiconductor device with cured phenoxyphenyl polysiloxane are further disclosed. |
| US08637626B2 |
Non-precious metal-containing 2,8-bis(imino)quinoline complexes and their use as hydrosilylation catalysts
Disclosed herein are manganese, iron, cobalt, or nickel complexes containing 2,8-bis(imino)quinoline ligands and their use as catalysts or catalysts precursors for hydrosilylation reactions. |
| US08637621B2 |
Long-wearable soft contact lens
A hydrogel soft contact lens which is superior in extended-wearability, lens movement, wear comfort, and which does not adhere to a cornea when worn is provided. The lens provided can be a silicone hydrogel contact lens which contains units of hydrophilic siloxane monomers and amide-group-containing monomers having an N-vinyl group. |
| US08637620B2 |
Method for preparing polymer materials doped with metal elements and resulting materials
The invention relates to a process for preparing a polymeric material doped with metal elements, comprising a step of polymerization of at least one monomer comprising at least one ethylenic function, said monomer being complexed with a metal element.Use of the materials obtained by means of this process as catalysts, or luminescent or magnetic materials, or as elements for laser targets. |
| US08637618B2 |
Method for producing very-high or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene
The field of the invention relates generally to a method for preparing very-high or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. More particularly, the present invention related to a method of preparing very-high or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene using a supported catalyst comprising a support, an activator and a metal-ligand complex, as well as the catalyst itself. The present invention additionally relates to a method of using a supported catalyst comprising a support, an activator and co-supported metal-ligand complexes to obtain a bi-modal molecular weight distribution of polyethylene. |
| US08637617B2 |
Catalyst systems for the catalytic oligomerization of olefinic monomers
The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (IV); (R8)(R1)P—N(R3)—P(R4) (IV). |
| US08637615B2 |
Methods for making polyolefin products having different shear thinning properties and haze
Provided is a method for making a polyolefin comprising contacting one or more olefins in a reactor containing a catalyst; polymerizing the one or more olefins to produce an olefin polymer characterized by a first melt flow ratio (MFR) and a first haze; and altering the reaction temperature in the reactor to shift the first MFR to a MFR that is different than the first MFR and to shift the first haze to a haze that is different than the first haze. |
| US08637613B2 |
Self-dispersible silicone copolymers and method for the production and use thereof
The invention relates to highly transparent organofunctional silicone copolymers, being self-dispersible in water without emulsifiers or protective colloid, being obtained by radically initiated solution polymerization of a) one or more ethylenically unsaturated organomonomers, and b) one or more siliconmacromeres, characterized in that c) one or more water soluble comonomeres are copolymerized in an organic solvent or solvent mixture. |
| US08637610B2 |
Crosslinked polymers containing biomass derived materials
Novel, crosslinked polymers using biomass derived materials, such as aldaric acids and derivatives, are provided. The polymers can be used as hydrogels and in antimicrobial compositions. |
| US08637609B1 |
Blends of acrylic latices and polyurethane dispersions for coatings
A waterborne coating composition contains a film forming binder dispersed in an aqueous carrier; wherein the binder is an admixture including (A) about 40-60% by weight of an acrylic silane polymer derived from a monomer blend including alkyl (meth)acrylate monomers and at least one silane containing alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer; and (B) about 60-40% by weight of a polyurethane/acrylic hybrid dispersion. The composition is useful for plastic and metal substrates. |
| US08637607B2 |
Polyethylene blends and films
Disclosed are polyethylene blends and films. The blend comprises from 1 to 99%, based on the weight of the blend, of a medium density polyethylene (MDPE) and from 1 to 99% a polyolefin selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene, polybutene, and mixtures thereof. The MDPE is made by high pressure, free radical polymerization and has a density within the range of greater than 0.928 to 0.940 g/cm3 and an MI2 within the range of 0.1 to 1 dg/min. The shrink films made from the blend have strong contraction force and low creep. |
| US08637606B2 |
Tires and tread formed from phenol-aromatic-terpene resin
Tires and tread are made from resin formed from the polymerization of phenol, aromatic, and terpene and/or mono- and bi-cyclic mono- and bi-unsaturated hydrocarbons. |
| US08637605B1 |
UV resistant, clear, moisture curable silane functional polyolefin-based compositions, articles including the same, and methods of using the same
A moisture curable composition that includes a silage functional polyolefin, a first thermoplastic polymer that includes a thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of block copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer, styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene block copolymer, and combinations thereof, the block copolymer including no greater than 30 mole % styrene, saturated ethylene alphaolefin copolymer, butyl rubber, and combinations thereof, and polybutene having a number average molecular weight less than 5000, the composition being clear and resistant to ultraviolet light. |
| US08637601B2 |
Fluorine-containing polymer having heteroaromatic ring
There is provided a fluorine-containing polymer having an ionic group which has a heteroaromatic ring and is useful as a material comprising various heteroaromatic ring compounds having a stable fluorine-containing heteroaromatic ring, and further fluorine-containing polymer having a heteroaromatic ring which is useful as a starting material of the above-mentioned polymer or a curing agent. Also, there is provided a fluorine-containing polymer having a heteroaromatic ring such as imidazole in its side chain, a polymer salt thereof, and a polymer composition comprising such a polymer and a polymer salt and a nano filler. |
| US08637599B2 |
Rubber composition for inner liner and tire having inner liner including thereof
It is the purpose of the present invention to improve air permeation resistance, low heat build-up property and strength at break. The present invention provides a rubber composition for an inner liner including (B) specific mica, (C) carbon black and/or silica and (D) an alkylphenol-sulfur chloride condensate indicated by the formula (D1): (Wherein R1 to R3 are an alkyl group having 5 to 12 carbons; x and y are an integer of 2 to 4; and n is an integer of 0 to 10), based on (A) specific rubber component. |
| US08637598B2 |
Long-fibre-reinforced, thermoplastic moulding compound, method for production thereof and use thereof
A long-fiber-reinforced, thermoplastic molding compound of plastics material has outstanding impact strength and notched impact strength if it contains 30 to 90% by weight of at least one thermoplastic polyolefin, 9 to 69% by weight of at least one glass-like reinforcing fiber and 1 to 30% by weight of at least one mineral filler of an average particle size in the range from 0.1 to 2 μm. The molding compound is produced by the pultrusion method and is used in the production of domestic appliances such as washing machines or washer-dryers or electrical appliances such as coffeemakers or toasters or refrigerators or in automobile construction. |
| US08637593B2 |
Thermosetting resin composition, epoxy resin molding material, and polyvalent carboxylic acid condensate
The epoxy resin molding material of the invention comprises (A) an epoxy resin and (B) a curing agent, wherein the (B) curing agent contains a polyvalent carboxylic acid condensate. The thermosetting resin composition of the invention comprises (A) an epoxy resin and (B) a curing agent, wherein the viscosity of the (B) curing agent is 1.0-1000 mPa·s at 150° C., as measured with an ICI cone-plate Brookfield viscometer. |
| US08637591B2 |
Water-based ink for ink-jet recording
The present invention relates to a water dispersion for ink-jet printing including two kinds of carbon blacks (a) and (b) and a water-insoluble polymer which adheres to a surface of the respective carbon blacks (a) and (b), wherein the carbon black (a) has an acid group content of from 0 to 200 μmol/g and the carbon black (b) has an acid group content of more than 200 μmol/g but not more than 1000 μmol/g, and a difference between acid group contents of the carbon blacks (a) and (b) is from 100 to 1000 μmol/g, and a water-based ink for ink-jet printing which contains the water dispersion. The water-based ink is excellent in image density, fixing property, high lighter fastness, image uniformity, ejection reliability and storage stability. |
| US08637588B2 |
Optical composite material and optical element
An optical synthetic resin composed of: a synthetic resin; and fine particles dispersed in the synthetic resin at a ratio of 0.1 vol % or more to 50 vol % or less, each having a maximum length of 1 nm or more to 30 nm or less, in which part of surfaces of the fine particles are modified with functional groups which themselves repel each other, and a distance between two arbitrary adjacent fine particles among the fine particles is in a range of 0.1 nm or more to 500 nm or less. The two arbitrary adjacent fine particles attract each other with an intermolecular force, thereby making it possible to provide an optical composite deviating from an additivity range. |
| US08637584B2 |
Polyester polyol-containing polyurethane systems having improved hydrolytic stability
An isocyanate reactive composition for making a polyurethane foam includes a tertiary amine urethane catalyst comprising a di(C1-C4)alkyl fatty alkyl amine and a polyester polyol. The use of one or more of fatty alkyl tertiary amine serves to reduce hydrolysis of the polyester polyol in the isocyanate reactive composition. |
| US08637574B2 |
Salts of 3-pentylphenylacetic acid and pharmaceutical uses thereof
The present invention relates to salts of 3-pentylphenylacetic acid and their pharmaceutical uses. Particular aspects of the invention relate to the use of those salts in the prevention and/or treatment of various diseases and conditions in subjects, including the prevention and treatment of (i) blood disorders, (ii) renal disorders and renal disorder complications; (iii) inflammatory-related diseases; and/or (iv) oxidative stress related disorders. |
| US08637570B2 |
Pharmaceutical composition
A pharmaceutical composition comprising a docusate; an osmotic laxative; and a benzoate. |
| US08637564B2 |
Methods and compositions for inducing apoptosis by stimulating ER stress
The present invention provides a method for inducing apoptosis in selected cells by aggravating ER-stress. The aggravation of ER-stress is achieved in a specific manner by inhibiting SERCA (sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase), leading to elevated level of cytoplasmic calcium concentration, yet without inhibiting the activity of COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) or triggering the release of histamine. Induction of apoptosis may be enhanced by first inducing or further aggravating ER-stress through inhibition of proteasome or proteases. Also provided are compounds and compositions useful as ER-stress aggravating agents, methods for screening, selecting, identifying and designing the same and methods for treating diseased conditions by inducing apoptosis through specific and selective aggravation of ER-stress. |
| US08637561B2 |
Linked diimidazole derivatives
The present invention discloses compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: which inhibit RNA-containing virus, particularly the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention. |
| US08637560B2 |
Imidazolidinone compounds, methods to inhibit deubiquitination and methods of treatment
The present invention features imidazolidinone compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of imidazolidinone compounds. The compounds of the invention are utilized in methods of treating a deubiquitination-related disorder in a subject and inhibiting p97-associated deubiquitination. |
| US08637558B2 |
Thiazolidinedione derivative and use thereof
The present invention relates to novel thiazolidinedione derivatives expressed by the following formula (I) and the uses thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to novel thiazolidinedione derivatives expressed by the following formula (I) and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same. The novel thiazolidinedione derivatives of formula (I) according to the present invention can be effectively used for the prevention or treatment of cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disease and renal disease by inhibiting the activity of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) that decomposes prostaglandins as well as useful for the prevention of hair loss and the stimulation of hair growth, and osteogenic stimulation and wound healing. |
| US08637554B2 |
Methods for treating thyroid cancer
The invention provides methods for enhancing iodine absorption in a thyroid in a subject and treating thyroid cancer by administering to the subject a composition which includes a multi-kinase inhibitor. Furthermore, the invention provides methods for improving a medical diagnostic procedure based on radioactive iodine in a subject by administering to the subject a composition comprising a multi-kinase inhibitor. |
| US08637551B2 |
2-(1,2-benzisoxazol-3-yl)benzylamine derivatives
The invention relates to 2-(1,2-benzisoxazol-3-yl)benzylamine derivatives having the general Formula (I) wherein R1 represents the group CONR2R3 which is present at one of the positions 5-, 6- or 7- on the 1,2-benzisoxazole ring; R2 and R3 are independently H or (C1-4)alkyl; and R4 is cyclopropyl, 2-pyridyl or phenyl, optionally substituted with one or more halogens; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, as well as to the use of these derivatives for the treatment of pain, such as neuropathic pain or inflammatory pain. |
| US08637547B2 |
Compounds which inhibit members of the histone deacetylase family of enzymes and their use in the treatment of cell proliferative diseases
Compounds of formula (I) inhibit HDAC activity, wherein A, B and D independently represent ═C— or ═N—; W is a divalent radical —CH═CH— or CH2CH2—; R1 is a carboxylic acid group (—COOH), or an ester group which is hydrolysable by one or more intracellular carboxyesterase enzymes to a carboxylic acid group; R2 is the side chain of a natural or non-natural alpha amino acid; z is 0 or 1; and Y, L1, and X1 are as defined in the claims. |
| US08637543B2 |
Quinoline derivatives as kinase inhibitors
A series of quinoline and quinoxaline derivatives, substituted by a fused bicyclic pyridine or pyrimidine moiety attached via an alkylene chain optionally linked to a heteroatom, being selective inhibitors of P13 kinase enzymes, are accordingly of benefit in medicine, for example in the treatment of inflammatory, autoimmune, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, metabolic, oncological, nociceptive or ophthalmic conditions. |
| US08637541B2 |
Indole derivatives as CRTH2 receptor antagonists
The compound (+) {7R-[[(4-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl] (methyl)ammo]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydropyrido[1,2-a]mdol-10-yl}acetic acid and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are antagonists of the PGD2 receptor, CRTH2, and as such are useful in the treatment and/or prevention of CRTH2-meidated diseases such as asthma. |
| US08637540B2 |
Compositions for deterring abuse of opioid containing dosage forms
This invention relates to an abuse deterrent dosage form of opioid analgesics, wherein an analgesically effective amount of opioid analgesic is combined with a polymer to form a matrix. |
| US08637539B2 |
Remedies for neuropathic pain and model animals of neuropathic pain
The present invention relates to a therapeutic agent for neuropathic pain containing, as an active ingredient, a compound represented by general formula (I) or a pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salt thereof: (wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, A, and B have the same definitions as those described in the specification), and an animal model produced by administering (+)-4a-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methyl-1,2,3,4,4a,5,12,12a-octohydro-trans-quinolino[2,3-g]isoquinoline. The present invention makes it possible to perform drug treatment for neuropathic pain. The therapeutic effect of a compound against neuropathic pain can also be evaluated. |
| US08637536B2 |
Pyrimidinone compounds for use in the treatment of diseases or conditions mediated by Lp-PLA2
The present invention relates to novel compounds that inhibit Lp-PLA2 activity, processes for their preparation, to compositions containing them and to their use in the treatment of diseases associated with the activity of Lp-PLA2, for example atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and/or diabetic macular edema. |
| US08637535B2 |
Polymorphic and other crystalline forms of cis-FTC
Solid phases of (−)-cis-FTC, which are designated herein as amorphous (−)-FTC and Forms II and III (−)-cis-FTC) are provided that can be distinguished from Form I (−)-cis-FTC by X-ray powder diffraction patterns, thermal properties, and methods of manufacture. A hydrated crystalline form of (±)-cis-FTC (i.e. racemic cis-FTC), and a dehydrated form of the hydrate, are also provided, and can similarly be distinguished from other forms of FTC by X-ray powder diffraction patterns, thermal properties, and methods of manufacture. These FTC forms can be used in the manufacture of other forms of FTC, or in pharmaceutical compositions. Particularly preferred uses of these forms are in the treatment of HIV or hepatitis B. |
| US08637533B2 |
Inhibitors of human phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase delta
Methods of inhibiting phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase delta isoform (PI3Kδ) activity, and methods of treating diseases, such as disorders of immunity and inflammation, in which PI3Kδ plays a role in leukocyte function are disclosed. Preferably, the methods employ active agents that selectively inhibit PI3Kδ, while not significantly inhibiting activity of other PI3K isoforms. Compounds are provided that inhibit PI3Kδ activity, including compounds that selectively inhibit PI3Kδ activity. Methods of using PI3Kδ inhibitory compounds to inhibit cancer cell growth or proliferation are also provided. Accordingly, the invention provides methods of using PI3Kδ inhibitory compounds to inhibit PI3Kδ-mediated processes in vitro and in vivo. |
| US08637532B2 |
Amino azaheterocyclic carboxamides
The invention provides novel substituted amino azaheterocyclic carboxamide compounds according to Formula (I), their manufacture and use for the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases, such as cancer. |
| US08637529B2 |
Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine compounds
The present disclosure is directed to novel compounds of Formula (I) pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pro-drugs, biologically active metabolites, stereoisomers and isomers thereof wherein the variables are as defined herein. The compounds of Formula (I) are useful as kinase inhibitors and as such would be useful in treating certain conditions and diseases, especially inflammatory conditions and diseases and proliferative disorders and conditions, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis and asthma. |
| US08637522B2 |
Pyrazinone derivatives as insulin secretion stimulators, methods for obtaining them and use thereof for the treatment of diabetes
The present invention relates to pyrazinone derivatives of formula (I), wherein n, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in claim 1, as insulin secretion stimulators. The invention also relates to the preparation and use of these pyrazinone derivatives for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of diabetes and pathologies associated. |
| US08637521B2 |
Substituted piperazin-2,5-diones and their use as multifunctional bioactive compounds
The present invention discloses multifunctional bioactive compounds of formula (I) constituted of an immunoregulatory portion linked to a stabilizer moiety and pharmaceutical compositions thereof useful in the treatment of immune disorders and hemopoietic disorders such as immune cytopema, multiple myeloma, chronic lymphoid leucosis, lymphocytic lymphomas, lymphosarcomas. |
| US08637518B2 |
Pyridazinone derivatives
Compounds of the formula (I), in which Y, R1, R2, R3 and R3′ have the meanings indicated in claim 1, are inhibitors of tyrosine kinases, in particular of Met kinase, and can be employed, inter alia, for the treatment of tumours. |
| US08637517B2 |
Organic compounds
The present invention relates to 1-aza-bicycloalkyl derivatives of Formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in the specification and to processes for their production to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and to their use in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment and/or delay of progression of psychotic and nemodegenerative disorders. |
| US08637514B2 |
Polymorphs of brimonidine pamoate
A polymorph of brimonidine pamoate having the formula exhibits characteristics disclosed herein. The polymorph is included in a composition, device, or implant for use in the treatment or control of elevated intraocular pressure or in the neuroprotection of components of a neurological tissue to prevent progressive degeneration of such components. In particular, such a composition, device, or implant can be used to provide neuroprotection to cells and components of the optic nerve system. |
| US08637509B2 |
Azaindazoles
Herein are disclosed azaindazoles of formula (I) where the various groups are defined herein, and which are useful for treating cancer. |
| US08637503B2 |
Phenothiazine enantiomers as agents for the prevention of bone loss
Disclosed is the unexpected finding that enantiomers of phenothiazines, preferably the (+) enantiomer of promethazine, are particularly effective in inhibiting the bone resorbing cells, osteoclasts, thus providing new uses and methods for reducing bone loss and, e.g., treating periodontitis and osteoporosis. The invention provides a range of such uses, methods, medicaments and associated compositions and kits. |
| US08637502B2 |
2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-benzo{B}{1,4}diazepine-comprising compounds of formula(III) for treating pain
The invention relates to Heterocyclic-Substituted Piperidine Compounds, compositions comprising an effective amount of a Heterocyclic-Substituted Piperidine Compound and methods to treat or prevent a condition, such as pain, comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a Heterocyclic-Substituted Piperidine Compound. |
| US08637498B2 |
Oxopiperazine-azetidine amides and oxodiazepine-azetidine amides as monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitors
Disclosed are compounds, compositions and methods for treating various diseases, syndromes, conditions and disorders, including pain. Such compounds, and enantiomers, diastereomers, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are represented by Formula (Ia) and Formula (Ib) as follows: wherein Y, Z, and n are defined herein; and wherein Yb and Zb are as defined herein. |
| US08637497B2 |
AZA spiro alkane derivatives as inhibitors of metalloproteases
The present invention provides a compound of Formula I or Formula II: enantiomer, diastereomer, prodrug, solvate, metabolite, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein constituent variables are provided herein. The compounds of Formula I and II are modulators of metalloproteases and are useful in treating diseases associated with metalloprotease activity such as arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, skin disorders, inflammation and allergic conditions. |
| US08637496B2 |
Compounds having a monogalactosyldiacylglycerol synthase inhibitory activity as herbicide or algaecide, herbicide and algaecide compositions
The invention relates to the use of compounds having a monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) synthase inhibitory activity as herbicide or algaecide, and to herbicide and algaecide compositions containing at least one of these compounds. |
| US08637493B2 |
Methods for treating glioblastoma
Described are methods for treating cancers, e.g., glioblastoma, including administering an inhibitor of Notch signalling, e.g., a gamma secretase inhibitor, in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent. |
| US08637491B2 |
Thieno-pyridine derivatives as MEK inhibitors
A series of thieno[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives, attached at the 2-position to a substituted anilino moiety, which are substituted in the 3-position by a carbonyl group linked to a pyrrolidin-1-yl ring which in turn forms part of a heteroatom-containing fused bicyclic ring system, being selective inhibitors of human MEK (MAPKK) enzymes, are accordingly of benefit in medicine, for example in the treatment of inflammatory, autoimmune, cardiovascular, proliferative (including oncological) and nociceptive conditions. |
| US08637490B2 |
Anti-cancer agents
Described herein are compounds that may be selectively activated to produce active anti-cancer agents in tumor cells. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and methods of treating cancer using the compounds. |
| US08637489B2 |
Clear carrier compositions for lipophilic compounds, and method of treating keratinous substrates using such compositions
The present invention relates to a composition comprising: (a) at least one alkoxylated silicone acid; (b) at least one amino compound chosen from polyamines, alkoxylated polyamines, alkyl monoamines, alkoxylated monoamines and mixtures thereof; (c) at least one lipophilic compound; and (d) at least one solvent comprising water. Such a composition is clear in appearance, and stable.The present invention also relates to a method of making such a clear composition, and to a method of cosmetic treatment of a keratinous substrate using such a composition. |
| US08637486B2 |
Therapeutic substances that modulate genome methylation
Compounds containing nucleic acid bases or their precursors modified by enrichment at specific sites with heavy stable isotopes of elements naturally present at those sites in minute amount are useful for the treatment of diseases characterized by altered gene expression and altered pattern of epigenomic control. These compounds, when used as nutrients or in other medicinal application methods, can alter the DNA methylation pattern in a simple way through the well-understood mechanism of kinetic isotope effect (KIE). This effect could also be useful for modifying methylation kinetics in stem cell technology, cloning and as disease therapeutics. |
| US08637485B2 |
5′,-substituted adenosynes preparation thereof and use as inhibitors of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase
The crystal structure of the complex of S-adenosylmethionine methyl ester with hΛdoMetDC F223A, a mutant where the stacking of the aromatic rings of F7, adenine and F223 would be eliminated. The structure of this mutant with the ester shows that the ligand still maintains a syn conformation aided by pi-pi interactions to F7, hydrogen bonds to the backbone of Glu67, and electrostatic interactions. Several series of AdoMet substrate analogues with a variety of substituents at the 8 position of adenine were synthesized and analyzed for their ability to inhibit hAdoMetDC. To understand these results, virtual modeling of the enzyme inhibitor complexes and the crystal structures of human AdoMetDC with 5′-deoxy-5′-[N-methyl-N-[2-(aminooxy)ethyl]amino-8-methyl]adenosine (MAOEMA) and 5′-deoxy-5′-[N-methyl-N-[4-(aminooxy)butyl]amino-8-ethyl]adenosine (MAOBEA) at the active site have been determined experimentally. |
| US08637483B2 |
Antisense molecules and methods for treating pathologies
An antisense molecule capable of binding to a selected target site to induce exon skipping in the dystrophin gene, as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 to 59. |
| US08637482B2 |
Methods for treating chronic kidney disease
The present invention relates to methods for treating chronic kidney disease (CKD) including methods for preventing or delaying onset of CKD and methods for preventing exacerbation and progression of CKD. In particular embodiments, the invention provides methods for treating a subject at risk of developing CKD comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a) a therapeutically effective amount of at least one oligonucleotide compound which inhibits the expression of a human target gene associated with the kidney disease; and b) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or carrier, or mixtures thereof, thereby reducing the risk of CKD in the subject. |
| US08637480B2 |
Mitochondrial function-improving agent
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel mitochondrial function-improving agent and a novel PGC-1α expression inducing agent. The present invention provides a mitochondrial function-improving agent and a PGC-1α expression inducing agent each of which comprises a lysine-specific demethylase-1 (LSD-1) inhibitor. |
| US08637479B2 |
Compounds and methods for the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the CNS
Inflammatory diseases in the CNS can be treated or alleviated by the administration of an oligonucleotide in an amount sufficient to reduce the influx of mononuclear cells to the central nervous system by down-regulating the expression of at least one cell surface marker. For example multiple sclerosis can be treated or at least alleviated, by the administration of an oligonucleotide in a dose effective to inhibit or reduce the influx of mononuclear and/or autoaggressive cells to the central nervous system. The oligonucleotide can be used alone, or in combination with other treatment strategies. |
| US08637478B2 |
Compounds and methods for modulating protein expression
The present invention provides compounds and methods for modulating expression of a protein, including, but not limited to, modulating splicing of a pre-mRNA to modulate the amount of one or more variants of a protein. |
| US08637477B2 |
Antigenic compositions and use of same in the targeted delivery of nucleic acids
Methods and compositions are provided for delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids to a target cell. A chimeric antigen is provided to encapsulate, bind, or otherwise carry a nucleic acid molecule to a target cell where the chimeric antigen and nucleic acid are internalized by receptor-mediated endocytosis. The chimeric antigen has a nucleic acid interaction domain, a target binding domain, and an immune response domain that may include a target antigen. Targeting is generally provided by the specificity of the target binding domain for a particular target cell receptor, but may also be provided by inclusion of a targeting antigen within the immune response domain. The combined delivery of chimeric antigen and nucleic acid, which may be a siRNA, may be synergistic in certain applications, for example in breaking host tolerance to a virus or in providing immunostimulation. |
| US08637473B2 |
Synthetic membrane anchors
Synthetic molecule construct of the structure F—S1—S2-L where F is an O-linked mono-, di-, tri- or oligo-saccharide, S1 is 2-aminoethyl, 3-aminopropyl, 4-aminobutyl, or 5-aminopentyl, S2 is —CO(CH2)2CO—, —CO(CH2)3CO—, —CO(CH2)4CO— or —CO(CH2)5CO—, and L is a diacyl- or dialkyl-glycerophospholipid. |
| US08637466B2 |
Multi-arm polymeric alkanoate conjugates
Among other aspects, provided herein are multi-armed polymer conjugates comprising an alkanoate-linker, compositions comprising such conjugates, and related methods of making and administering the same. Methods of treatment employing such conjugates and related uses are also provided. The conjugates are prepared with high drug loading efficiencies. |
| US08637465B2 |
Fibroblast growth factor receptor-derived peptides binding to NCAM
The present invention relates to the use of peptides that are capable of binding to, and modulating the activity of NCAM. The peptides are peptide fragments of FGFRs. They are derived from two distinct binding sites for binding of the immunoglobulin-like module 2 of FGFR to NCAM F3 modules 1-2. The invention further relates to use of said peptides for the production of a medicament for the treatment of different pathological conditions, wherein NCAM and/or FGFRs play a prominent role. |
| US08637463B2 |
Peptide inhibiting angiotensin converting enzyme
The invention provides a peptide having an activity of inhibiting angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), and a food and drink and/or a pharmaceutical composition containing the peptide. |
| US08637461B2 |
Method of diagnosing and treating oxidative stress-impaired wound healing
The method of diagnosing and treating oxidative stress-impaired wound healing allows a practitioner to identify a subject at risk of having impaired wound healing by identifying the sensitivity of that patient to IGF-1. A finding of IGF-1 resistance, either systemically or at the site of an already existing wound, indicates an increased likelihood that the wound will have difficulty healing. In addition, identifying IGF-1 resistance by this method indicates that treatment of a wound with a combination of an antioxidant, IGF-1 and IGFBP-1 will provide optimal healing. |
| US08637458B2 |
Insulin with a stable basal release profile
A basal insulin formulation composed of insulin, preferably insulin glargine, injectable zinc and injectable iron compounds as precipitating and/or stabilizing agents has been developed for subcutaneous, intradermal or intramuscular administration. The formulation is designed to form a precipitate of insulin following injection, creating a slow releasing “basal insulin” over a period of 12 to 24 hours. |
| US08637457B2 |
Processes and intermediates
The invention relates to compounds and processes useful for the preparation of protease inhibitors, particularly serine protease inhibitors. The protease inhibitors are useful for treatment of HCV infections. |
| US08637455B2 |
Compositions and methods for delivery of glycopeptide antibiotics to medical device surfaces
The presently disclosed subject matter relates to peptides having binding affinity for glycopeptide antibiotics and methods and compositions for delivering glycopeptide antibiotic to the surface of medical devices. The peptide compositions can comprise a peptide having binding affinity for a surface material of a medical device that is coupled to the peptide having binding affinity for glycopeptide antibiotic. Also provided are methods of applying the peptide compositions to a medical device by contacting the peptide compositions with a surface of the medical device. In addition, kits are provided comprising the peptide compositions. |
| US08637454B2 |
Treatment of mucositis with kallikrein inhibitors
Methods, kits and compositions are disclosed that include an isolated kallikrein inhibitor for the treatment of mucositis. |
| US08637453B2 |
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 following formula (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. |
| US08637451B2 |
Guanylate cyclase receptor agonists for the treatment of tissue inflammation and carcinogenesis
A method of treatment of inflamed, pre-cancerous or cancerous tissue or polyps in a mammalian subject is disclosed. The treatment involves administration of a composition of at least one peptide agonist of a guanylate cyclase receptor and/or other small molecules that enhance intracellular production of cGMP. The at least one peptide agonist of a guanylate cyclase receptor may be administered either alone or in combination with an inhibitor of cGMP-dependent phosphodiesterase. The inhibitor may be a small molecule, peptide, protein or other compound that inhibits the degradation of cGMP. Without requiring a particular mechanism of action, this treatment may restore a healthy balance between proliferation and apoptosis in the subject's population of epithelial cells, and also suppress carcinogenesis. Thus, the method may be used to treat, inter alia, inflammation, including gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders, general organ inflammation and asthma, and carcinogenesis of the lung, gastrointestinal tract, bladder, testis, prostate and pancreas, or polyps. |
| US08637450B2 |
Methods of promoting fat loss comprising administering an ALK7 inhibitor
The invention relates to ALK7 soluble receptors and their uses as antagonists of the function of certain ligands such as GDF-8 (Myostatin) and GDF-11. The ALK7 soluble receptor of the invention is useful as antagonists of GDF-8 and GDF-11 in the treatment of neuronal diseases or conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, and all peripheral nerve diseases. The ALK7 soluble receptor of the invention is also useful as GH (growth hormone) equivalent, and for increasing muscle mass. |
| US08637447B2 |
Viral capsid proteins and any peptides or compositions thereof for the treatment of pathologic disorders
The present invention relates to viral capsid proteins, as a medicament for the treatment of a pathologic disorder. More particularly, the invention relates to the viral capsid proteins VP1, VP2 and VP3, preferably, the SV40 VP1 or any peptide, fragment, mutant, derivative and mixtures thereof or of virus-like particles (VLP's) comprising the same, as the active ingredient in compositions for the treatment of pathologic disorders, preferably disorders associated with inactivation of cellular proteins involved with quality control processes, particularly, chaperones. The invention further provides methods for the treatment of such disorders and the use of the SV40 capsid proteins for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions. |
| US08637443B2 |
Cleaning compositions and methods comprising a hydrofluoro-olefin or hydrochlorofluoro-olefin solvent
The invention provides solvent and cleaning compositions comprising an ionic surfactant, which preferably has a fluorinated portion thereof, and a solvent selected from hydrofluoro- and/or hydrochlorofluoro-olefins. Additionally, the invention provides drying, dry cleaning, and soil repellency compositions containing a hydrofluoro- or hydrochlorofluoro-olefin and said surfactant. Additionally, the invention provides drying compositions containing a hydrofluoro-olefin or hydrochlorofluoro-olefin and an alcohol such as methanol, ethanol or isopropanol. |
| US08637442B2 |
Non-fluoropolymer surface protection composition comprising a polyorganosiloxane-silicone resin mixture
The present invention encompasses a surface treatment composition which comprises a polyorganosiloxane fluid-silicone resin mixture and a carrier. The polyorganosiloxane fluid-silicone resin mixture comprises about 2% to about 95%, by weight of the mixture, of one or more polyorganosiloxane fluid compounds; from about 1% to about 10%, by weight of the mixture, of one or more silicone resin, a protonation agent, at least about 5%, by weight of the mixture; of water; and optionally, less than about 5%, by weight of the mixture, of an emulsifier. |
| US08637440B2 |
Biodegradable personal cleansing compositions and methods relating to same
A personal cleansing composition includes a surfactant, a thickener, emulsifier and at least one particulate dispersed in the thickener, the at least one particulate being formed of a substantially biodegradable substance. The at least one particulare may include a soy meal based polymer. The soy meal based polymer is both stable and biodegradable. The at least one particulate includes a group of suspended particles added to mechanically scrub the skin of a user or used as a textural ingredient to modify the feel, spreadability or slip of a product. The soy meal based polymer is useful in personal cleansing compositions as an exfoliant, a scrub, a film former or as a filler. The half-life of the composition may be modified as necessary based on the shelf-life of the product. |
| US08637438B2 |
Lubricant composition for internal combustion engine
A lubricating oil composition for internal combustion engines comprising a base oil containing at least one component selected from an α-olefin oligomer having 16 to 40 carbon atoms obtained by oligomerizing α-olefin(s) having 2 to 20 carbon atoms using a metallocene catalyst, and the hydrogenated derivative thereof; an α-olefin oligomer having 16 to 40 carbon atoms derived from an α-olefin dimer obtained using a metallocene catalyst, and the hydrogenated derivative thereof; and the like. The lubricating oil composition has an excellent low-temperature fluidity, a low evaporativity, and a good oxidation stability. |
| US08637436B2 |
Integrated semiconductor bioarray
A biosensor array, system and method for affinity based assays that are able to simultaneously obtain high quality measurements of the binding characteristics of multiple analytes, and that are able to determine the amounts of those analytes in solution. The invention also provides a fully integrated bioarray for detecting real-time characteristics of affinity based assays. |
| US08637435B2 |
Eukaryotic cell display systems
The present invention provides expression vectors and helper display vectors which can be used in various combinations as vector sets for display of polypeptides on the outer surface of eukaryotic host cells. The expression vector of the invention can be used alone for soluble expression without having to change or reengineer the display vectors. The display systems of the invention are particularly useful for displaying a genetically diverse repertoire or library of polypeptides on the surface of yeast cells, and mammalian cells. |
| US08637431B2 |
Heat-sensitive recording material with reverse face coating
A heat-sensitive recording material having a substrate that carries on its first side at least one heat-sensitive recording layer having at least one dye precursor and at least one color acceptor. The dye precursor and color acceptor react with one another in a color-forming manner under the action of heat. On its second side the substrate has a backcoat containing calcium carbonate. The backcoat is formed of at least two layers, a first layer is applied closer to the substrate and a second layer is applied farther from the substrate. The first layer contains a first calcium carbonate and the second layer contains a second calcium carbonate that differs from the first calcium carbonate. |
| US08637430B2 |
Web substrate having activated color regions in topical additive regions
The present invention relates to a web substrate comprising an activatable colorant and at least one region comprising a topical additive. A first activated color region is produced in the web substrate upon exposure to a first external stimulus and a second activated color region is produced within the first activated color region upon exposure to a second external stimulus. The second activated color region coincides with the topical additive region. |
| US08637428B1 |
Lithium extraction composition and method of preparation thereof
This invention relates to a particulate extraction material for the extraction of lithium from a geothermal brine or lithium containing solution. The particulate material includes an inorganic or polymer based substrate that includes a lithium aluminum intercalate layer applied to the exterior of the substrate, wherein the lithium aluminum intercalate layer is operable to capture lithium ions from solution. |
| US08637425B2 |
Process for preparing a Ni/Sn supported catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of polyunsaturated hydrocarbons
A process is described for preparing a catalyst comprising at least one porous support and at least one metallic phase containing nickel and tin in a proportion such that the Sn/Ni molar ratio is in the range 0.01 to 0.2, said process comprising at least the following steps in succession: a) depositing nickel on at least said support in order to obtain a supported nickel-based monometallic catalyst; b) reducing said monometallic catalyst in the presence of at least one reducing gas; c) depositing, in the gas phase and in the presence of at least one reducing gas, at least one organometallic tin compound onto said reduced monometallic catalyst; and d) activating the solid derived from said step c) in the presence of at least one reducing gas. |
| US08637423B2 |
Selective catalysts having high temperature alumina supports for naphtha hydrodesulfurization
This invention relates to a catalyst and method for hydrodesulfurizing naphtha. More particularly, a Co/Mo metal hydrogenation component is loaded on a high temperature alumina support in the presence of a dispersion aid to produce a catalyst that is then used for hydrodesulrurizing naphtha. The high temperature alumina support has a defined surface area that minimizes olefin saturation. |
| US08637421B2 |
Metallocene and a new single site catalyst component
The present invention discloses a catalyst system based on a metallocene catalyst component and a new single site catalyst component for the production in a single reactor of improved polyolefins having a bimodal molecular weight distribution. |
| US08637420B2 |
Methods for producing metal-containing sulfated activator-supports
The present invention provides metal-containing sulfated activator-supports, and polymerization catalyst compositions employing these activator-supports. Methods for making these metal-containing sulfated activator-supports and for using such components in catalyst compositions for the polymerization of olefins are also provided. |
| US08637419B2 |
Method for making a hydroprocessing catalyst
Provided is a method for making a catalyst for hydroprocessing a carbonaceous feedstock under hyd reprocessing conditions. More particularly, the methods relate to inhibiting rapid decomposition of ammonium nitrate during calcination of the catalyst following metal impregnation, wherein ammonium nitrate is formed when a nitrate-containing composition and an ammonium-containing component is used in the deposition of metal onto the catalyst. |
| US08637417B2 |
Method for treating flue gas catalysts
A method for treating a catalyst base that comprises a contact area of porous material. A fluid, such as a flue gas stream, can be conducted along the contact area. A catalytically relevant substance is introduced into pores of the catalyst base using a transport fluid and remains on pore wall areas after removal of the transport fluid. The introduction is carried out such that an amount of the catalytically relevant substance relative to the surface remains on the pore wall areas as a function of location within the pore and decreases within the pore after exceeding a specific pore depth. A blocking fluid can first be introduced into pore regions beyond the specific pore depth, thus blocking these regions when transport fluid containing the catalytically relevant substance is introduced. |
| US08637416B2 |
Method for manufacturing zeolite membrane, and zeolite membrane
There is provided a zeolite membrane which is thinner than a conventional membrane and which has improved permeability and a method for manufacturing the zeolite membrane. The method includes a surface layer forming step for forming a surface layer by attaching a low polar polymer on a first surface of a porous substrate to cover the surface, a filling step for filling a masking polymer into pores in the porous substrate from a surface different from the first surface of the porous substrate up to the surface layer by impregnating the porous substrate with the masking polymer and solidifying the masking polymer, and a surface layer removing step for removing the surface layer. After the surface layer removing step, a zeolite membrane is formed on the first surface of the porous substrate. |
| US08637413B2 |
Nonvolatile resistive memory element with a passivated switching layer
A nonvolatile resistive memory element has a novel variable resistance layer that is passivated with non-metallic dopant atoms, such as nitrogen, either during or after deposition of the switching layer. The presence of the non-metallic dopant atoms in the variable resistance layer enables the switching layer to operate with reduced switching current while maintaining improved data retention properties. |
| US08637412B2 |
Process to form an adhesion layer and multiphase ultra-low k dielectric material using PECVD
A first PECVD process incorporating a silicon oxide precursor alone and then with an organo-silicon precursor with increasing flow while the flow of the silicon oxide precursor is reduced to zero provides a graded carbon adhesion layer whereby the content of C increases with layer thickness and a second PECVD process incorporating an organo-silicon precursor including an organic porogen provides a multiphase ultra-low k dielectric. The multiphase ultra-low k PECVD process uses high frequency radio frequency power just above plasma initiation in a PECVD chamber. An energy post treatment is also provided. A porous SiCOH dielectric material having a k less than 2.7 and a modulus of elasticity greater than 7 GPa is formed. |
| US08637405B2 |
Silicon surface texturing method for reducing surface reflectance
A method of texturing a surface of a crystalline silicon substrate is provided. The method includes immersing a crystalline silicon substrate into an aqueous alkaline etchant solution to form a pyramid shaped textured surface, with (111) faces exposed, on the crystalline silicon substrate. The aqueous alkaline etchant solution employed in the method of the present disclosure includes an alkaline component and a nanoparticle slurry component. Specifically, the aqueous alkaline etchant solution of the present disclosure includes 0.5 weight percent to 5 weight percent of an alkaline component and from 0.1 weight percent to 5 weight percent of a nanoparticle slurry on a dry basis. |
| US08637399B2 |
Etching composition, method of forming a metal pattern and method of manufacturing a display substrate
An etching composition for a copper-containing layer includes about 0.1% to about 30% by weight of ammonium persulfate, about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of a sulfate, about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of an acetate and about 55% to about 99.79% by weight of water. The etching composition having improved stability during storage and an increased capacity for etching. |
| US08637394B2 |
Integrated circuit package system with flex bump
An integrated circuit package system includes: forming a flex bump over an integrated circuit device structure, the flex bump having both a base portion and an offset portion over the base portion; forming a first ball bond of a first internal interconnect over the offset portion; and encapsulating the integrated circuit device structure, the flex bump, and the first internal interconnect. |
| US08637392B2 |
Solder interconnect with non-wettable sidewall pillars and methods of manufacture
A solder interconnect structure is provided with non-wettable sidewalls and methods of manufacturing the same. The method includes forming a nickel or nickel alloy pillar on an underlying surface. The method further includes modifying the sidewall of the nickel or nickel alloy pillar to prevent solder wetting on the sidewall. |
| US08637385B2 |
High voltage durability transistor and method for fabricating same
According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for fabricating a high voltage durability transistor comprises forming a gate over a gate oxide layer formed over a substrate, aligning an exposure mask with the gate, and selectively blocking exposure of the gate during gate implant doping, by exposure shields formed in the exposure mask, thereby producing the high voltage durability transistor. In one embodiment, an exemplary high voltage durability transistor comprises a gate formed over a gate oxide layer, the gate oxide layer being situated over a semiconductor substrate, where the gate has a reduced doping implant due to selective implant blocking provided by exposure shields formed in an exposure mask. The selective implant blocking results in an enhanced dielectric barrier so as to produce a high voltage durability transistor. The enhanced dielectric barrier has a depletion region with an increased thickness. |
| US08637383B2 |
Strain relaxation using metal materials and related structures
Methods of fabricating semiconductor structures include forming a plurality of openings extending through a semiconductor material and at least partially through a metal material and deforming the metal material to relax a remaining portion of the semiconductor material. The metal material may be deformed by exposing the metal material to a temperature sufficient to alter (i.e., increase) its ductility. The metal material may be formed from one or more of hafnium, zirconium, yttrium, and a metallic glass. Another semiconductor material may be deposited over the remaining portions of the semiconductor material, and a portion of the metal material may be removed from between each of the remaining portions of the semiconductor material. Semiconductor structures may be formed using such methods. |
| US08637382B2 |
Layer transfer of films utilizing thermal flux regime for energy controlled cleaving
A method and system for cleaving a film of material utilizing thermal flux. The method includes providing a substrate having a face and an underlying cleave region including a prepared initiation region. Additionally, the method includes subjecting the initiation region to a first thermal flux to form a cleave front separating the cleave region of the substrate to a film portion and a bulk portion. The method further includes subjecting an area of the bulk portion substantially in the vicinity of the cleave front to a second thermal flux to cause a temperature difference above and below the cleave region for inducing a propagation of the cleave front expanding the film portion to the area at the expense of the bulk portion. Furthermore, the method includes determining a scan path for the second thermal flux based on the cleave front. Moreover, the method includes scanning the second thermal flux to follow the scan path to further propagate the cleave front. |
| US08637381B2 |
High-k dielectric and silicon nitride box region
Aspects of the invention provide for preventing undercuts during wafer etch processing and enhancing back-gate to channel electrical coupling. In one embodiment, aspects of the invention include a semiconductor structure, including: a high-k buried oxide (BOX) layer atop a bulk silicon wafer, the high-k BOX layer including: at least one silicon nitride layer; and a high-k dielectric layer; and a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) layer positioned atop the high-k BOX layer. |
| US08637380B2 |
Method of processing silicon and glass substrates using a laser peeling technique
According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including forming a metal film on aback surface of a glass substrate which supports a semiconductor substrate on a front surface thereof; forming a metal oxide film by oxidizing the whole or at least a portion of the metal film from the front surface; forming protective film, such as silicon nitride, on the metal oxide film; holding the front surface of the protective film with an electrostatic chuck; and forming a via for electrical connection in the semiconductor substrate while the front surface of the protective film is in contact with by the electrostatic chuck; then using a laser to delaminate the glass substrate from the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08637378B2 |
Semiconductor component and methods for producing a semiconductor component
A semiconductor component includes a semiconductor body, in which are formed: a substrate of a first conduction type, a buried semiconductor layer of a second conduction type arranged on the substrate, and a functional unit semiconductor layer of a third conduction type arranged on the buried semiconductor layer, in which at least two semiconductor functional units arranged laterally alongside one another are provided. The buried semiconductor layer is part of at least one semiconductor functional unit, the semiconductor functional units being electrically insulated from one another by an isolation structure which permeates the functional unit semiconductor layer, the buried semiconductor layer, and the substrate. The isolation structure includes at least one trench and an electrically conductive contact to the substrate, the contact to the substrate being electrically insulated from the functional unit semiconductor layer and the buried layer by the at least one trench. |
| US08637375B2 |
Method of manufacturing a tunnel transistor and IC comprising the same
A method of manufacturing a tunnel field effect transistor is disclosed. The method comprises forming a two-step profile in a silicon substrate (100) using a patterned hard mask (104) covering the higher steps of said profile; forming a gate stack (114, 116) against the side wall of the higher step; forming spacers (122) on either side of the gate stack (118); and implanting a first type impurity (124) in the higher step and an opposite type impurity in the neighboring lower step (120), wherein at least the first type impurity is implanted using an angled implanting step after removing the patterned hard mask (104). In a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises forming a sacrificial spacer (108) against a side wall of a higher step and the side wall of the hard mask (104); further etching the lower step (106, 110) next to said spacer (108) and subsequently growing a further semiconductor portion (112) on said lower step and removing the spacer (108) prior to forming the gate stack. Further disclosed is an IC comprising tunnel transistors manufactured in accordance with this method. |
| US08637372B2 |
Methods for fabricating a FINFET integrated circuit on a bulk silicon substrate
Methods are provided for fabricating a FINFET integrated circuit that includes epitaxially growing a first silicon germanium layer and a second silicon layer overlying a silicon substrate. The second silicon layer is etched to form a silicon fin using the first silicon germanium layer as an etch stop. The first silicon germanium layer underlying the fin is removed to form a void underlying the fin and the void is filled with an insulating material. A gate structure is then formed overlying the fin. |
| US08637368B2 |
Fabrication of MOS device with varying trench depth
Fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming a gate trench in an epitaxial layer overlaying a semiconductor substrate; disposing gate material in the gate trench; forming a body in the epitaxial layer; forming a source in the body; forming an active region contact trench that has a varying trench depth; and disposing a contact electrode within the active region contact trench. Forming the active region contact trench includes performing a first etch to form a first contact trench depth associated with a first region, and performing a second etch to form a second contact trench depth associated with a second region. The first contact trench depth is substantially different from the second contact trench depth. |
| US08637367B2 |
Method for producing an insulation layer between two electrodes
Method for producing an insulation layer between a first electrode and a second electrode in a trench of a semiconductor body, wherein the method comprises the following features: providing a semiconductor body with a trench formed therein, wherein a first electrode is formed in a lower part of the trench, producing an insulation layer on the first electrode and at the sidewalls of the trench in an upper part of the trench in such a way that the insulation layer is formed in a U-shaped fashion in the trench, producing a protective layer on the insulation layer at least at the bottom of the remaining void in the trench, removing the insulation layer at the sidewalls of the trench in the upper part of the trench, removing the protective layer, producing a second electrode at least on the insulation layer above the first electrode. |
| US08637363B1 |
Methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a node array
Methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device are provided. The method includes forming a preliminary mask pattern on an etch target layer. The preliminary mask pattern includes wave line type patterns, and each of the wave line type patterns includes main pattern portions and connection bar pattern portions. Node separation walls are formed on sidewalls of the preliminary mask patterns. The etch target layer is etched using the node separation walls as etch masks to form through holes penetrating the etch target layer. Nodes are formed in respective ones of the through holes. |
| US08637361B2 |
Semiconductor nanostructures, semiconductor devices, and methods of making same
A semiconductor structure is provided, which includes multiple sections arranged along a longitudinal axis. Preferably, the semiconductor structure comprises a middle section and two terminal sections located at opposite ends of the middle section. A semiconductor core having a first dopant concentration preferably extends along the longitudinal axis through the middle section and the two terminal sections. A semiconductor shell having a second, higher dopant concentration preferably encircles a portion of the semiconductor core at the two terminal sections, but not at the middle section, of the semiconductor structure. It is particularly preferred that the semiconductor structure is a nanostructure having a cross-sectional dimension of not more than 100 nm. |
| US08637359B2 |
Fin-last replacement metal gate FinFET process
FinFET devices and methods for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a method for fabricating a FET device includes the following steps. A wafer is provided having an active layer on an insulator. A plurality of fin hardmasks are patterned on the active layer. A dummy gate is placed over a central portion of the fin hardmasks. One or more doping agents are implanted into source and drain regions of the device. A dielectric filler layer is deposited around the dummy gate. The dummy gate is removed to form a trench in the dielectric filler layer. The fin hardmasks are used to etch a plurality of fins in the active layer within the trench. The doping agents are activated. A replacement gate is formed in the trench, wherein the step of activating the doping agents is performed before the step of forming the replacement gate. |
| US08637357B2 |
CMOS Transistor with dual high-k gate dielectric and method of manufacture thereof
A CMOS device with transistors having different gate dielectric materials and a method of manufacture thereof. A CMOS device is formed on a workpiece having a first region and a second region. A first gate dielectric material is deposited over the second region. A first gate material is deposited over the first gate dielectric material. A second gate dielectric material comprising a different material than the first gate dielectric material is deposited over the first region of the workpiece. A second gate material is deposited over the second gate dielectric material. The first gate material, the first gate dielectric material, the second gate material, and the second gate dielectric material are then patterned to form a CMOS device having a symmetric Vt for the PMOS and NMOS FETs. |
| US08637356B2 |
Method of integrating a single nanowire into a nanocircuit
A non-volatile bistable nano-electromechanical switch is provided for use in memory devices and microprocessors. The switch employs carbon nanotubes as the actuation element. A method has been developed for fabricating nanoswitches having one single-walled carbon nanotube as the actuator. The actuation of two different states can be achieved using the same low voltage for each state. |
| US08637352B2 |
Ball grid array to pin grid array conversion
Ball grid array to pin grid array conversion methods are provided. An example method can include coupling a plurality of solder balls to a respective plurality of pin grid array contact pads. Each of the plurality of solder balls is encapsulated in a fixed material. A portion of the plurality of solder balls and a portion of the fixed material is removed to provide a plurality of exposed solder balls. The exposed solder balls are softened and each of a plurality of pin members is inserted in a softened, exposed, solder ball. The plurality of pin members forms a pin grid array package. |
| US08637343B2 |
Process for preparing an electronic device
The invention relates to a process for preparing an electronic device using a protection layer, and to improved electronic devices prepared by this process, in particular organic field effect transistors (OFETs). |
| US08637340B2 |
Patterning of silicon oxide layers using pulsed laser ablation
Various laser processing schemes are disclosed for producing various types of hetero-junction and homo-junction solar cells. The methods include base and emitter contact opening, selective doping, metal ablation, annealing to improve passivation, and selective emitter doping via laser heating of aluminum. Also, laser processing schemes are disclosed that are suitable for selective amorphous silicon ablation and selective doping for hetero-junction solar cells. Laser ablation techniques are disclosed that leave the underlying silicon substantially undamaged. These laser processing techniques may be applied to semiconductor substrates, including crystalline silicon substrates, and further including crystalline silicon substrates which are manufactured either through wire saw wafering methods or via epitaxial deposition processes, or other cleavage techniques such as ion implantation and heating, that are either planar or textured/three-dimensional. These techniques are highly suited to thin crystalline semiconductor, including thin crystalline silicon films. |
| US08637335B1 |
Photonic modulator with a semiconductor contact
A semiconductor structure includes a photonic modulator and a field effect transistor on a same substrate. The photonic modulator includes a modulator semiconductor structure and a semiconductor contact structure employing a same semiconductor material as a gate electrode of a field effect transistor. The modulator semiconductor structure includes a lateral p-n junction, and the semiconductor contact structure includes another lateral p-n junction. To form this semiconductor structure, the modulator semiconductor structure in the shape of a waveguide and an active region of a field effect transistor region can be patterned in a semiconductor substrate. A gate dielectric layer is formed on the modulator semiconductor structure and the active region, and is subsequently removed from the modulator semiconductor structure. A semiconductor material layer is deposited, patterned, and doped with patterns to form a gate electrode for the field effect transistor and the semiconductor contact structure for the waveguide. |
| US08637333B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display and manufacturing method of the same
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes: a first substrate including a display area and a non-display area; a driving element on the display area of the first substrate, and including a driving thin film transistor, a switching thin film transistor, and a capacitor; a circuit unit on the non-display area of the first substrate; an organic light emitting element on the driving element, and including a pixel electrode, an organic emission layer, and a common electrode; an inorganic protective layer covering the circuit unit and the common electrode of the organic light emitting diode; a sealing member on the inorganic protective layer in the non-display area of the first substrate; and a second substrate on the sealing member. |
| US08637323B2 |
Fluorescent nitric oxide probes and associated methods
Nitric oxide probes including a compound represented by Formula, I, II, III, IV, V, VI or a combination thereof are provided. Methods of using these nitric oxide probes to detect nitric oxide are also provided. |
| US08637317B2 |
Method of washing beads
The invention provides a method of redistributing magnetically responsive beads in a droplet. The method may include providing a droplet including magnetically responsive beads. The droplet may be provided within a region of a magnetic field having sufficient strength to attract the magnetically responsive beads to an edge of the droplet or towards an edge of the droplet, or otherwise regionalize or aggregate beads within the droplet. The method may also include conducting on a droplet operations surface one or more droplet operations using the droplet without removing the magnetically responsive beads from the region of the magnetic field. The droplet operations may in some cases be electrode-mediated. The droplet operations may redistribute and/or circulate the magnetically responsive beads within the droplet. In some cases, the droplet may include a sample droplet may include a target analyte. The redistributing of the magnetically responsive beads may cause target analyte to bind to the magnetically responsive beads. In some cases, the droplet may include unbound substances in a wash buffer. The redistributing of the magnetically responsive beads causes unbound substances to be freed from interstices of an aggregated set or subset of the magnetically responsive beads. |
| US08637314B2 |
Reverse micelles based on phytosterols and acylglycerols and therapeutic uses thereof
The present invention relates generally to reverse-m ice liar system comprising a hydrosoluble therapeutically active agent. Reverse micelles according to the invention are particularly useful to deliver drugs. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical composition comprising said reverse micelles and methods for preparing the same. |
| US08637313B2 |
Production of viral vectors
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the production of viral vectors. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for faster, higher titer and higher purity production of viral vectors (e.g. adenoviral vectors). In some embodiments, the present invention provides gutted and helper viruses with identical or similar termini. In other embodiments, the present invention provides terminal protein linked adenoviral DNA. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides template extended adenoviral DNA. |
| US08637312B2 |
Mammalian culture media with polyamine and iron
The present invention relates to an improved cell culture additive with a content of polyamines and iron, media containing it and processes for using it for an improved cell growth, cell viability or cellular productivity. |
| US08637310B2 |
Use of a rock inhibitor to sustain primary human keratinocytes in a proliferative state
Disclosed herein is the finding that treatment with a ROCK inhibitor increases proliferation and induces immortalization of primary keratinocytes. Accordingly, provided is a method of immortalizing primary keratinocytes by exposure to a ROCK inhibitor. Also provided are immortalized primary keratinocytes produced by the described method, as well as organotypic tissue equivalents and cell cultures comprising the immortalized primary keratinocytes. Furthermore, ROCK inhibitor-treated cells show a greatly increased ability to support viral DNA replication of both “low risk” and “high risk” HPV genomes, indicating that ROCK inhibitors will be useful for studying the life cycles of a wide range of HPVs. |
| US08637305B2 |
Expression vectors encoding epitopes of target-associated antigens and methods for their design
The invention disclosed herein is directed to methods of identifying a polypeptide suitable for epitope liberation including, for example, the steps of identifying an epitope of interest; providing a substrate polypeptide sequence including the epitope, wherein the substrate polypeptide permits processing by a proteasome; contacting the substrate polypeptide with a composition including the proteasome, under conditions that support processing of the substrate polypeptide by the proteasome; and assaying for liberation of the epitope. The invention further relates to vectors including a housekeeping epitope expression cassette. The housekeeping epitope(s) can be derived from a target-associated antigen, and the housekeeping epitope can be liberatable, that is capable of liberation, from a translation product of the cassette by immunoproteasome processing. The invention also relates to a method of activating a T cell comprising contacting a substrate polypeptide with an APC and contacting the APC with a T cell. |