| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08649254B2 |
Delay restricted channel estimation for multi-carrier systems
A method includes multiplying, at a device, a suppressed estimate of a channel by a first matrix to obtain a delay restricted estimate of the channel. The method also includes demodulating a signal received via the channel based at least in part on the delay restricted estimate of the channel. |
| US08649252B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining a precoding vector for precoding data to be transmitted to a wireless device in a wireless communication system
A method for determining a precoding vector for precoding data to be transmitted to a wireless device, includes receiving first channel state information of a channel between a first wireless device and a first base station. The first channel state information is received by the first base station from the first wireless device. The method includes receiving first channel gain information of a channel between a second wireless device and the first base station. The first channel gain information is received from the second base station. The method includes receiving a first signal strength parameter from the second base station and a first interference strength parameter from the second base station and maximizing a common signal to interference noise ratio parameter to obtain a precoding vector for precoding data to be transmitted to the first wireless device. |
| US08649251B2 |
Multi-user multiplexing method and transmission device
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for multi-user multiplexing. The method includes: a transmission apparatus performing layer mapping on data steams to be transmitted of an open-loop user and a close-loop user respectively; the transmission apparatus performing pre-coding processing on a layer data matrix of the open-loop user and the close-loop user obtained by the layer mapping; and the transmission apparatus mapping the layer data matrix after the pre-coding processing to a plurality of transmission antennas to be sent. The method of the present invention can improve frequency spectrum utilization ratio in the case of the a cell being full load or other possible scenarios, and its performance is better than the multiplexing of two close-loop users who are completely not suitable for pairing. Therefore, the method of the present invention is an optimal scheme adopted in some specified scenarios. |
| US08649250B2 |
Series of optical recording media
A series of optical recording media is provided to reduce a burden on an optical pickup by introducing a standardized idea among a plurality of optical recording media. In the series of optical recording media, optical recording media are of a plurality of types, each optical recording medium including a plurality of planar recording and reading layers with no projections and depressions for tracking control, and a servo layer with projections and depressions for tracking control. The plurality of optical recording media have different numbers of stacked recording and reading layers, and the positions of the servo layers with respect to the corresponding light incident surfaces are standardized among the plurality of optical recording media. |
| US08649249B1 |
Printing magnetic pattern onto disk
A novel method and apparatus is provided for printing magnetic patterns using heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). The apparatus includes an array of probes that is arranged in a predetermined pattern, such as a servo pattern. The array of probes is brought into contact, or near-contact, with a magnetic recording medium that has been bulk erased substantially along an initialization direction. Each probe is energized so as to heat its respective contacted (or near-contacted) region of the recording medium above a threshold temperature. An external magnetic field is applied to the heated regions in a direction that is substantially opposite from the initialization direction. The strength of the external magnetic field is chosen to be greater than the coercivity of the recording medium at the threshold temperature, but less than the coercivity of the recording medium at room temperature. As a result, only magnetizations in the heated regions become aligned with the external field. |
| US08649248B2 |
Optical information recording method, optical information reproduction method and optical disk device
When a phase shift is to be evaluated, based on a difference between an output from a waveform equalization circuit to equalize an input reproduced signal to a predetermined target equalization characteristic and the target equalization characteristic, the phase shift of the reproduced signal relative to a channel clock, a group delay characteristic with respect to the frequency of the waveform equalization circuit is fixed. Hence, an equalized waveform as an output from the waveform equalization circuit can preserve phase shift information of the inputted reproduced signal to correctly detect the phase shift of the reproduced waveform using the equalized waveform. It is hence possible to realize, with high precision, optimal value learning of various parameters for the recording, reproduction, and servo by use of the phase shift as an index. |
| US08649247B2 |
Optical disc apparatus and optical power control method
An optical disc apparatus includes: a light source; a power detection portion that detects optical power of light emitted from the light source; a temperature detection portion that detects an ambient temperature of the power detection portion; a storage portion in which information relating to a temperature drift characteristic of the power detection portion is stored; and a control portion that controls the optical power while performing a temperature correction relating to the power detection portion by using the information stored in the storage portion. In the optical disc apparatus, the information stored in the storage portion is updated. |
| US08649244B2 |
Target searching device, target searching program, and target searching method
The target searching device includes: a sound source which transmits a sound wave into a propagation space; a transducer array placed in an area to receive a forward scattering wave which scatters forward from the target within the propagation space; a subtraction processing device which subtracts a traveling wave directly traveling towards the transducer array from a mixed wave of the forward scattering wave and the traveling wave so as to separate the forward scattering wave; a passive-phase conjugate processing device which performs passive-phase conjugate processing on the forward scattering wave separated by the subtraction processing device so as to generate a passive-phase conjugated signal of the forward scattering wave; an autocorrelation processing device which performs autocorrelation processing on the traveling wave to generate an autocorrelation processed signal of the traveling wave; and a correlation device which judges a similarity between the autocorrelation processed signal and the passive-phase conjugated signal. |
| US08649238B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of controlling the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, an address control unit and a logic circuit. The memory cell array includes a plurality of banks which are divided into a first bank block and a second bank block. The address control unit accesses the memory cell array. The logic circuit controls the address control unit based on a command and an address signal such that the first and second bank blocks commonly operate in a first operation mode, and the first and second bank blocks individually operate in a second operation mode. |
| US08649237B2 |
Power-up signal generation circuit
A power-up signal generation circuit includes a first driving section configured to generate a pre-power-up signal by driving a first node to a first pull-up drivability or driving the first node to a first pull-down drivability in response to an internal voltage when not in an active mode, and a second driving section configured to generate the pre-power-up signal by driving the first node to a second pull-up drivability or driving the first node to a second pull-down drivability in response to the internal voltage in the active mode. The first pull-up drivability is larger than the second pull-up drivability, and the first pull-down drivability is smaller than the second pull-down drivability. |
| US08649230B2 |
Write circuitry for hierarchical memory architectures
A memory architecture includes a plurality of local input and output circuitries, with each local input and output circuitry associated with at least one memory bank. The memory architecture also includes a global input and output circuitry, which includes a plurality of global sub-write circuitries, is coupled to the plurality of local input and output circuitries One global sub-write circuitry is enabled and provides a write-data to a selected local input and output circuitry. |
| US08649225B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory device and memory system
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array and a control circuit. A control circuit performs an erase operation providing a memory cell with a first threshold voltage level for erasing data of a memory cell, and then perform a plurality of first write operations providing a memory cell with a second threshold voltage level, the second threshold voltage level being higher than the first threshold voltage level and being positive level. When the control circuit receives a first execution instruction from outside during the first write operations, the first execution instruction being for performing first function operation except for the erase operation and the first write operations, the circuit performs the first function operation during the first write operations. |
| US08649224B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory device
A control circuit performs a read operation of reading data held in a memory-cell by supplying a selected word-line with a read voltage that is a voltage between the lower limit and the upper limit of a plurality of threshold-voltage distributions provided to the memory-cell. The control circuit also performs a verify operation of determining whether a write operation is completed by supplying a selected word-line with a verify voltage higher than the read voltage to read the memory cell. The control circuit then performs a data variation determination operation of determining whether the memory-cells connected to a selected word-line each have a threshold voltage equal to or less than a certain value to determine, from among the plurality of memory cells connected to the selected word-line, whether the number of memory cells where data variation has occurred is not less than a certain number. |
| US08649222B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device which transfers a plurality of voltages to memory cells and method of writing the same
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, a bit line, and a voltage generator. The memory cell array includes each of a plurality of memory cells. Each of the memory cells includes a charge storage layer and a control gate and is capable of holding two or more levels of data. The bit line is capable of transferring data to the memory cells in a one-to-one correspondence. The voltage generator carries out a verify operation by applying a verify voltage to the memory cells after performing first writing by applying a first voltage and then a second voltage lower than the first voltage to the control gate. |
| US08649220B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory can reduce variations in an amount of current during data writing operation. This allows for the writing of data to memory cells with high precision. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes a plurality of memory cells, word lines connected to the memory cells, and bit lines connected to each of the memory cells. At least two of the bit lines are selected, and a current is simultaneously supplied from a power supply line to those memory cells which are connected to the selected bit lines in order to write data thereto. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory also includes charge amount measurement units for measuring respective amounts of charge stored in the memory cells. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory also includes current path switching circuits connected to the respective bit lines. Those current path switching circuits which are connected to the selected bit lines supply a current from the power supply line to the memory cells or a predetermined terminal depending on a measured value of the amount of charge measured by the charge amount measurement section. |
| US08649215B2 |
Data management in flash memory using probability of charge disturbances
A Flash memory system and a method for data management using the system's sensitivity to charge-disturbing operations and the history of charge-disturbing operations executed by the system are described. In an embodiment of the invention, the sensitivity to charge-disturbing operations is embodied in a disturb-strength matrix in which selected operations have an associated numerical value that is an estimate of the relative strength of that operation to cause disturbances in charge that result in data errors. The disturb-strength matrix can also include the direction of the error which indicates either a gain or loss of charge. The disturb-strength matrix can be determined by the device conducting a self-test in which charge-disturb errors are provoked by executing a selected operation until a detectable error occurs. In alternative embodiments the disturb-strength matrix is determined by testing selected units from a homogeneous population. |
| US08649213B2 |
Multiple bit phase change memory cell
A phase change memory cell has more than one memory region each being a narrowed region of phase change memory material extending between first and second electrodes. Each of the plurality of memory regions can be programmed to be in a low resistance state or a high resistance state by applying suitable programming conditions of current and/or voltage. The resistances of the high resistance states and the programming conditions to convert the high resistance states to the low resistance state are different in each of the plurality of memory regions. |
| US08649212B2 |
Method, apparatus and system to determine access information for a phase change memory
Techniques for determining access information describing an accessing of a phase change memory (PCM) device. In an embodiment, an initial read time for a PCM cell is determined based on a final read time for the PCM cell, set threshold voltage information and a reset threshold voltage drift, wherein the final read time and the initial read time define a time window for reading the PCM cell. In another embodiment, a time window extension is determined based on a reset threshold voltage drift. |
| US08649208B2 |
Method for driving semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a nonvolatile memory cell including a writing transistor including an oxide semiconductor, a reading transistor including a semiconductor material different from that of the writing transistor, and a capacitor. Data is written to the memory cell by turning on the writing transistor so that a potential is supplied to a node where a source electrode of the writing transistor, one electrode of the capacitor, and a gate electrode of the reading transistor are electrically connected, and then turning off the writing transistor so that a predetermined potential is held in the node. Data is read out from the memory cell by supplying a precharge potential to a bit line, stopping the supply of the potential to the bit line, and determining whether the potential of the bit line is kept at the precharge potential or decreased. |
| US08649206B2 |
Multi-bit resistance-switching memory cell
A non-volatile storage apparatus comprises a set of Y lines, a set of X lines and a plurality of memory cells in communication with the set of X lines and the set of Y lines. Each memory cell of the plurality of memory cells includes a resistance element in a static resistance condition and two or more reversible resistance-switching elements. The resistance element in the static resistance condition and the two or more reversible resistance-switching elements are connected to different Y lines of the set of Y lines. The resistance element in the low resistance state and the two or more reversible resistance-switching elements are connected to a common X line of the set of X lines. One or multiple bits of data are programmed into a particular memory cell of the plurality of memory cells by causing current flow between Y lines connected to the particular memory cell. |
| US08649198B2 |
Power conversion device
Disclosed is a power conversion device which achieves reductions in switching loss due to a reverse recovery current and heat generation loss. Specifically disclosed is a power conversion device provided with a cascode element configured by electrically connecting a normally-on switching element and a normally-off switching element in series and connecting a gate terminal of the normally-on switching element and a source terminal of the normally-off switching element via a cascode connection diode, and a high-speed diode electrically connected in parallel with the cascode element and having a cathode region connected to a positive electrode terminal and an anode region connected to a negative electrode terminal. |
| US08649196B2 |
Power converting apparatus with an output voltage that is the sum of voltages generated by individual inverters
A power converting apparatus includes a first inverter (3) connected to a first DC power supply (1) and a plurality of second inverters (4A, 4B) connected in series to the first DC power supply (1). The plurality of second inverters (4A, 4B) provide compensation to an output voltage of the first inverter (3) by the sum of outputs at which a power balance becomes approximately zero. The power converting apparatus generates output voltage commands (VrefA, VrefB) for the respective second inverters (4A, 4B) upon individually making an adjustment so that DC bus voltages of the second inverters (4A, 4B) become equal to each other depending on whether charging or discharging mode is selected while keeping the sum of the individual output voltage commands (VrefA, VrefB) at a target sum voltage (Vref2). |
| US08649195B2 |
Hybrid space vector PWM schemes for interleaved three-phase converters
Systems and methods for controlling a modular three-phase converter including two or more interleaved, parallel connected Voltage Source Converters (VSCs) utilizing a hybrid Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation (SVM) control scheme are provided. For the hybrid SVM control scheme, six active vectors utilized for SVM define six sectors in a space vector plane. Each sector is divided into two or more regions having corresponding optimal SVM switching sequences. In operation, a revolving reference voltage vector is sampled to provide a reference voltage vector. The SVM controller then identifies one of the regions in one of the sectors that corresponds to an angle and, in some embodiments, a magnitude of the revolving reference voltage vector and applies the corresponding optimal SVM switching sequence to the two or more interleaved, parallel connected VSCs. |
| US08649192B2 |
Power supply with galvanic isolation
A power-supply includes a power-supply input. A transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding separated galvanically from the primary winding. A controlled semiconductor switch has a control input in series circuit with the primary winding, which lies parallel to the power-supply input. A controllable control circuit for the semiconductor switch delivers a periodic control signal, which is controlled such that the output voltage on the secondary winding is kept at a desired value independent of the load, to the semiconductor switch. A voltage limiting circuit lies parallel to the input side of the primary winding. An output signal of the voltage limiting circuit acts on the switch state of the semiconductor switch to move the semiconductor switch to a stationary state, in which it generates no alternating current on the primary winding, when the voltage on the primary winding has exceeded a specified limiting value. |
| US08649189B2 |
Power supply with single stage converter for performing power factor correction and resonant conversion
A power supply has a single stage converter for performing power factor correction to reduce high-frequency harmonics in the input current and performs resonant conversion to achieve zero-voltage switching or zero-current switching for power conversion. The inventive single stage converter includes a switching circuit, a resonant circuit, a power control circuit, and a square wave generator. The switching circuit includes at least one switch and the resonant circuit includes a LLC resonant tank. The power control circuit includes a proportional differential circuit such as a power amplifier configured in a negative feedback topology, and the square wave generator is configured to generate driving signals based on the frequency modulation control signal generated by the comparison of the sensed input current and a user-defined power level input, thereby allowing the square wave generator to regulate the switching operation of the switching circuit. |
| US08649186B2 |
Package substrate and semiconductor package having the same
A package substrate includes a main body having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, a plurality of external terminals attached to the lower surface, and a plurality of grooves formed in regions of the lower surface to which the plurality of external terminals is not attached. The semiconductor package includes a package substrate, a semiconductor chip mounted on the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a board providing a region mounted with the package substrate and being mounted with a plurality of mounting elements which are vertically aligned with the plurality of grooves and are inserted into the plurality of grooves. |
| US08649184B2 |
Signal conversion device with dual chip
The present invention provides a dual chip signal conversion device, comprising: a carrier, one side surface thereof being provided with at least a first contact and a second contact while the other side surface thereof being provided with at least a third contact and a fourth contact; a first chip disposed at one side surface of the carrier and electrically connected to the second and fourth contacts; a second chip disposed at one side surface of the carrier and electrically connected to the first chip; and an antenna disposed within the carrier and electrically connected to the second chip. |
| US08649176B2 |
Display apparatus including cooling section
A display apparatus includes a display section, a control section, and a cooling section including a first ceiling section, a second ceiling section, a first connecting section and an air stream generating section. The first ceiling section is formed such that a distance of the first ceiling section from a non-display surface of the display section is shorter than that of the second ceiling section, and a ventilating area of a first ventilating passage is smaller than that of a second ventilating passage. The air stream generating section is configured such that an air stream is generated from the second ventilating passage toward the first ventilating passage so as to take the air out of the first ventilating passage and the second ventilating passage, and replenish the taken air with the ambient air. The control section is provided on a control section mounting surface of the first ceiling section. |
| US08649175B2 |
Locking mechanism and an electronic device having the same
A locking mechanism for locking an outer shell includes a frame adapted to be stacked with an outer shell and having a through hole for extension of an engaging piece of the outer shell therethrough, a locking element disposed movably on the frame, and a release button disposed slidably on the frame. The locking element has a hook-engaging portion, and a contact portion opposite to the hook-engaging portion. The hook-engaging portion is extendable to the through hole for engaging releasably the engaging piece. The release button has one end abutting against the contact portion. The release button is operable to push the contact portion, which in turn moves the hook-engaging portion to disengage from the engaging piece. |
| US08649174B2 |
Apparatus and article for separating intake air from exhaust air
An apparatus and article is disclosed for separating intake air from exhaust air. The apparatus discloses an intake port, coupled to conduct intake air; an exhaust port, coupled to conduct exhaust air; and an air-curtain port, coupled to conduct air-curtain air to separate at least a portion of the intake air conducted by the intake port from the exhaust air conducted by the exhaust port. The article discloses a ductwork shell article, having an intake vent, an intake chamber, an exhaust vent, an exhaust chamber, an air-curtain vent, and an air-curtain chamber; wherein: the air-curtain vent is in part located between the exhaust vent and the intake vent. |
| US08649173B2 |
Operation processor
A fan box is provided with, in addition to an intake port in the front face, a second intake port at a wall surface position upstream of a fan. An Input/output unit disposed above or below the fan box comprises an exhaust notch that is aligned with the second intake port of the fan box, as well as an intake notch that is provided further to the rear than the exhaust notch. The intake notch is in communication with an air duct that opens in the front face of the processor and that leads to a unit box. The fan discharges through an exhaust port cooling wind that has flowed into the first intake port via an operation unit, as well as cooling wind that has flowed into the second intake port via the Input/output unit. |
| US08649169B2 |
Systems and methods for securing mobile computing devices
Systems for securing mobile devices such as laptops are provided. Such systems are characterized by two end members, each with a male electrical connector, that engage opposite sides of mobile device, a crossbeam between the two end members that cradles the underside of the mobile device, and a mechanical linkage that is used to release the mobile device. In addition to a slim form factor, systems of the present invention can comprise registration posts to align a top edge of the mobile device to the crossbeam, a receptacle for a power adapter connector, and a locking mechanism to lock an end member to the crossbeam and optionally also lock the power adapter connector to the system. |
| US08649165B2 |
Electronic apparatus and display panel module
An electronic apparatus and a display panel module are disclosed. The display panel module includes a frame, a display panel, and a removable element. A first end of the removable element is fixed on the display panel, and a second end of the removable element is removably fixed on an inner wall of the frame to make the display panel not contact with the frame. |
| US08649164B1 |
Ergonomic rearward keyboard
A keyboard that is attached on to the back of a mobile computing device, having keys that are facing rearward away from the user as the user holds and faces the display screen of the mobile computing device. When the user holds the mobile computing device with both hands at the bottom or side edges, his/her fingers are free to press the rearward-facing keys of the attached keyboard. The keys are divided into one partial field for the left-hand fingers and another partial field for the right-hand fingers. The keys within their respective partial fields are placed in mirror-opposite of the positions that would have been in a front-facing keyboard that is laid before the user. This rearward-facing key orientation allows the user to use the same rapid typing system, such as that of the QWERTY keyboard layout, on the rearward-facing keyboard as he/she would on a traditional front-facing keyboard. |
| US08649162B2 |
Display device with a lens plate and method of manufacturing the display device
The present invention provides a display device comprising a top chassis including first plate and a second plate extended and bent down from the first, a lens plate disposed below the first plate, a first frame supporting a peripheral area of the lens plate, a display panel disposed below the first frame, a backlight unit supporting a peripheral area of the display panel, and a chassis fixing member fixing the top chassis to the backlight unit. The first frame includes a first surface facing an inner surface of the first plate and a second surface facing an inner surface of the second surface. |
| US08649159B2 |
Semiconductor module device and driving apparatus having the same
A controller has a control board, a power module and a power board. MOS transistors, inverter input terminals, coil terminals, inverter ground terminals, control terminals, a control power input terminal and a control ground terminal are integrally molded in a molded portion of a power module. Electrical connections between the power module and the control and power boards are made through the terminals provided in the molded portion. |
| US08649158B2 |
Capacitor arrangement and method for producing a capacitor arrangement
The present invention relates to a capacitor arrangement having a capacitor and a first terminal plate and a second terminal plate. The capacitor has a first contact face and a second contact face arranged opposite one another. The terminal plates are each connected to one of the contact faces and have protrusions on one end suitable for engaging in recesses in a power rail. |
| US08649155B2 |
Electronic component including reinforcing electrodes
An electronic component includes a ceramic body including first to fourth side surfaces, a first external electrode provided on one side surface of the ceramic body, a second external electrode, and a plurality of reinforcing electrodes. Each of the first and second external electrodes includes a thick-film electrode layer including sintered metal, a plated layer arranged so as to cover the thick-film electrode layer, an external electrode main body portion covering the side surface of the ceramic body, and turnback portions extending to the top surface and the bottom surface of the ceramic body. An end portion of at least one reinforcing electrode of the plurality of reinforcing electrodes is exposed on the top surface or the bottom surface of the ceramic body on the center portion of the ceramic body in relation to the thick-film electrode layer in the turnback portion. |
| US08649145B2 |
Circuit arrangement for limiting a voltage
A circuit arrangement for enforcing an intrinsically safe situation in a hazardous zone features a first switching device that lies in the series arm and a second switching device that lies in the shunt arm. If a fault occurs that would violate the conditions of intrinsic safety, the first switching device is initially blocked and the second switching device is switched through with a time delay such that the output terminals are mutually short-circuited. In addition, a monitoring device is provided for monitoring the load conditions at the switching device arranged in the series arm. |
| US08649142B2 |
Equivalent alpha plane fault determination for a multi-terminal power apparatus
Current differential protection is provided for a multi-terminal power apparatus, such as a power transmission line. Currents measured at each of the multiple terminals are used to calculate a differential current and a restraining current, which are then converted into a first equivalent current and a second equivalent current of an equivalent two-terminal power apparatus. In the equivalent two-terminal power apparatus, a differential current derived from the first and second equivalent currents is substantially equal to the differential current of the original multi-terminal power apparatus. Similarly, a restraining current derived from the first and second equivalent currents is substantially equal to the restraining current of the original multi-terminal power apparatus. The first and second equivalent currents may be used in an alpha plane analysis to determine whether or not to trip the multi-terminal power apparatus. |
| US08649140B2 |
Voltage activated 2nd level safety circuit for permanent isolation
A voltage activated 2nd level safety circuit for permanent isolation having a current activated fuse useful for class III medical devices, military applications, and any other passive loads. The battery system has a fuse current limiter and the current activated fuse maintain the fuse closed when a power cell, having a current sufficient to blow the fuse expeditiously, directs its current to the load. The power cell continues to direct its current to the load until the system detects an unacceptable battery or circuit condition. Once that unacceptable condition exists and is detected, a fuse blowing circuitry allows the power cell's current to expeditiously blow the current activated fuse. In response to the blown current activated fuse, the system's isolation switch(es) open as well to establish a permanent isolated battery. |
| US08649137B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming same for ESD protection
In an embodiment a circuit provides protection against electrostatic discharge (ESD). A shunt device is controlled to provide a current bypass upon the occurrence of an ESD event. A trigger circuit controls operation of the shunt device and includes an inverter and a hysteresis means to prevent oscillation of the trigger circuit. A reference is used to trigger the control circuit and has a time constant associated with it to distinguish between power up events and ESD events. |
| US08649133B2 |
Plug tail systems
The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring system that includes a connector device having connector contacts coupled to termination structures that couple a first AC power conductor and a second AC power conductor to corresponding contacts of the plurality of connector contacts. An electrical wiring device includes a device housing having a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion includes at least one user-accessible control element disposed thereon. The at least one user-accessible control element is coupled to an electrical switch mechanism disposed in the device housing and coupled to a plurality of device contacts. The plurality of device contacts are accessible by way of a device connection arrangement formed in the rear portion of the device housing. The plurality of device contacts are configured to mate with the plurality of connector contacts when the connector device is coupled to the device connection arrangement. |
| US08649125B1 |
Pole tip shield for a magnetic write element having notched or truncated side shields
The application discloses pole tip shield assemblies for a magnetic write element. The shield assemblies disclosed include side shields to limit adjacent track interference. The side shields are truncated or notched at a midpoint to form an expanded non-magnetic gap along a trailing portion of the pole tip to enhance write field and/or field gradient. The expanded non-magnetic gap region is larger than the non-magnetic gap region along a leading portion of the pole tip. |
| US08649123B1 |
Method to eliminate reactive ion etching (RIE) loading effects for damascene perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) fabrication
A method for providing a perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head is disclosed. The method comprises: providing an insulating layer; covering the insulating layer with a hard mask material; forming a pre-defined shape in the hard mask material; forming a pole trench and a yoke area in the insulating layer by a first reactive ion etching (RIE) process in which the yoke area includes a loading prevention pattern; performing a wet etching process to remove the hard mask material from the pole trench and the yoke area; performing a second RIE process to remove the loading prevention pattern of the yoke area, wherein the pole trench and the remainder of the yoke area are not removed and remain having similar side wall angles; and providing a PMR pole in which at least a portion of the PMR pole resides in the pole trench. |
| US08649117B2 |
Method of writing a preamble field on a disk drive to reduce track squeeze
Preamble fields are written on a storage disk in a hard disk drive in a way that reduces track squeeze. Preamble fields for a particular data storage track on the storage disk are written over multiple revolutions of the storage disk to eliminate low-frequency variations of the preamble stitch line from an ideal position of the preamble stitch line. By writing the preamble fields for one data storage track over multiple revolutions, and by writing the preamble fields in each revolution to non-consecutive servo wedges, low-frequency variations of the preamble stitch line from its ideal position can be converted to high-frequency variations of the preamble stitch line that do not produce low-frequency track squeeze. |
| US08649112B2 |
Image lens assembly
An image lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element has negative refractive power. The third lens element with refractive power is made of plastic material, and has at least one surface being aspheric. The fourth lens element with refractive power is made of plastic material, and has a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, wherein at least one surface of the fourth lens element is aspheric. The fifth lens element with positive refractive power is made of plastic material, and has a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, wherein at least one surface of the fifth lens element is aspheric. |
| US08649108B2 |
Zoom lens, camera device, and data terminal device
A zoom lens includes first to fifth lens groups having positive, negative, negative, positive, and positive refractive powers, respectively, arranged along an optical axis in order from an object side, and an aperture stop disposed between the third and fourth lens groups. When zooming from wide angle end to telephoto end, the zoom lens is moved so that an interval between the first and second lens groups increases, an interval between the second and third lens groups varies, an interval between the third and fourth lens groups decreases, and the third lens group focuses. The second lens group is arranged to have a focal length to satisfy the following condition: 0.95<|f2/√(fw*ft)|<4.0 where f2 is a focal length of the second lens group, fw and ft are focal lengths of the entire zoom lens at wide angle end and at telephoto end, respectively. |
| US08649107B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
A zoom lens includes: a first lens group having negative refractive power; a diaphragm; a second lens group having positive refractive power; a third lens group having negative refractive power; and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power, arranged in order from an object side. The first lens group is configured by at least one negative lens and one positive lens. The third lens group is configured by one negative lens. Then power is changed from a wide angle end state to a telephoto end state, the first, second, and third lens groups are moved in the direction of an optical axis, and the fourth lens group is fixed. When focusing, the third lens group is moved in the direction of the optical axis so as to satisfy the following Conditional Equations, −2.8 |
| US08649105B2 |
Zoom lens system and image pickup apparatus including the same
Provided is a zoom lens system including, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens unit having positive refractive power; a second lens unit having negative refractive power; a prism for bending an optical path; and a rear group including a plurality of lens units, in which the first lens unit is moved to the object side while the second lens unit is moved to the image side with respect to an imaging plane at a telephoto end compared to at a wide angle end, and movement amounts M1 and M2 of the first lens unit and the second lens unit with respect to an image plane in zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, a focal length f2 of the second lens unit, and a focal length ft of an entire system at the telephoto end are respectively set appropriately. |
| US08649099B2 |
Prismatic multiple waveguide for near-eye display
A near-eye display includes a compound waveguide for presenting viewers with virtual images visible within an eyebox at a limited relief distance from the compound waveguide. The compound waveguide is assembled from a plurality of waveguides that are at least partially optically isolated for conveying different portions of the virtual image. An input couple injects the different portions of the virtual image into predetermined combinations of the waveguides, and an output coupling ejects the different portions of the virtual image from the waveguides toward the eyebox in a form that at least partially constructs a pupil within the eyebox. |
| US08649098B2 |
Collimating optical member for real world simulation
A collimating image-forming apparatus comprising a first linear polarizer is disclosed. A first quarterwave plate is disposed adjacent the first polarizer and has its fast and slow axes at substantially 45° to the plane of polarization of the first polarizer. The apparatus further comprises a beam-splitting curved mirror having a convex surface adjacent the first polarizer and facing towards the first quarter-wave plate, a second quarter-wave plate adjacent the concave side of the curved mirror, the second quarterwave plate having its having its fast and slow axes oriented with respect to the corresponding axes of the first quarter-wave plate at angles substantially equal to a first integral multiple of 90°, and a reflective-transmissive polarizing member adjacent the second quarter-wave plate. A second linear polarizer is adjacent the reflective-transmissive polarizing member, the second linear polarize: having its plane of polarization oriented with respect to the plane of polarization of the first linear polarizer at an angle substantially equal to a second integral multiple of 90°, both of the multiples being even or both being odd. |
| US08649096B2 |
Fine grating and mold therefor
This invention provides a mold with which a two-dimensional subwavelength grating can be produced with a higher percentage transfer by injection molding and a two-dimensional subwavelength grating having a high aspect ratio produced with such a mold. The mold for a fine grating according to the present invention has protrusion parts (107) arranged at an interval on the bottom face (103) of a cavity, wherein the interval is a distance between centers of the protrusion parts and a period of the fine grating smaller than wavelengths of visible lights. In one embodiment, a cross-section of the protrusion parts, parallel to the bottom face of the cavity decreases with height along the protrusion parts and a decreasing rate of the cross-section increases with height along the protrusions. |
| US08649092B2 |
Screen and screen unit
A screen reflects projection light for display. The screen has a screen base designed to be wound and including a first surface (front surface) and a second surface (rear surface) on the side opposite to the front surface. The front surface contains a display area that has a reflection film on which the projection light is reflected. The screen further has a flexible protection member which is disposed on the portion of the rear surface corresponding to the outside of the display area in the width direction of the display area, and extends through substantially the full length of the display area in the winding direction of the display area. The front surface is positioned outside when the screen base is wound. |
| US08649091B2 |
Screen unit
A screen unit includes a screen, a screen holding unit which holds the upper end of the screen, a screen winding unit around which the screen is wound, a pantograph mechanism which expands and stores the screen, and adjusting units which control the position of the upper end of the screen when the screen is expanded. The adjusting units have a support member which has a screw portion, and an adjusting screw member rotatably provided on the corresponding support member. The support member shifts in accordance with rotation of the adjusting screw member. |
| US08649090B2 |
Rear-projection screen for ultra short throw projector
A rear-projection screen for an ultra short throw projector includes a diffusing member to diffuse incident light having a specific angular range (AR) corresponding to a hotspot area generated on the rear-projection screen, and to transmit incident light having an angular range other than the specific angular range (AR). The diffusing member is provided at an area of the rear-projection screen where light having smaller incidence angle with respect to the rear-projection screen strikes the rear-projection screen. |
| US08649089B2 |
System and method for adjusting a beam expander in an imaging system
A line confocal microscope system, comprising an illumination system with a source of collimated light and a line forming optics arranged to provide a line shaped illumination area to be scanned over a sample, an image receiving system, and two or more objective lenses that are interchangeable in the optical path to provide different magnification, wherein the objective lenses have different aperture diameters, and the illumination system comprises a beam shape transformer arranged in between the source of collimated light and the line forming optics to selectively transform the cross-sectional shape of the collimated beam of light transmitted to the line forming optics to a predetermined shape in response to the back aperture diameter of the objective lens that is arranged in the optical path. |
| US08649088B2 |
Microscope system
A microscope system stores, for each objective, the movement control information including a type flag indicating the type of an objective depending on the presence/absence of a soak or a type of the soak and a save distance for saving the stage or the objective switch unit by a predetermined distance. When a switch direction of objectives is input, and when there is a change in the type of the objective after the switch, the system stops an operation after the stage or the objective switch unit is moved according to the save distance, and recovers the stage or the objective switch unit to an original position after the operation direction input unit inputs an operation direction for the stage and the objective switch unit. |
| US08649087B2 |
IR cut filter
An IR cut filter includes an infrared light absorber to absorb infrared light, and an infrared light reflector to reflect infrared light. The infrared light absorber has a light transmission property of 50% transmittance with respect to a wavelength in a wavelength band of 620 to 670 nm. The infrared light reflector has a light transmission property of 50% transmittance with respect to a wavelength in a wavelength band of 670 to 690 nm. The wavelength with respect to which the infrared light reflector has the 50% transmittance is longer than the wavelength with respect to which the infrared light absorber has the 50% transmittance. A combination of the infrared light absorber and the infrared light reflector provides a light transmission property of 50% transmittance with respect to a wavelength in the 620 to 670 nm wavelength band and less than 5% transmittance with respect to a 700 nm wavelength. |
| US08649086B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating high-intensity optical pulses with an enhancement cavity
An enhancement cavity includes a plurality of focusing mirrors, at least one of which defines a central aperture having a diameter greater than 1 mm. The mirrors are configured to form an optical pathway for closed reflection and transmission of the optical pulse within the enhancement cavity. Ring-shaped optical pulses having a peak intensity at a radius greater than 0.5 mm from a central axis are directed into the enhancement cavity. Accordingly, the peak intensity of the optical pulse is distributed so as to circumscribe the central apertures in the apertured mirrors, and the mirrors are structured to focus the pulse about the aperture toward a central spot area where the pulse is focused to a high intensity. |
| US08649082B2 |
Interior electrochromic mirror assembly
An interior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes front and rear substrates with a perimeter seal that spaces said front substrate from said rear substrate and establishes an interpane cavity therebetween for an electrochromic medium. The front substrate has a front connecting portion that extends outboard from the perimeter seal and the rear substrate has a rear connecting portion that extends outboard from the perimeter seal. The front and rear connecting portions may be established partially along the same perimeter region of the reflective element or along adjacent perimeter regions of the reflective element. Electrical connection to the transparent electrically conductive coating at the second surface of the front substrate is established at the front connecting portion of the front substrate and electrical connection to the electrically conductive coating of the third surface of the rear substrate is established at the rear connecting portion of the rear substrate. |
| US08649079B2 |
Mirror driving device and mirror driving method
A mirror driving device of an aspect can include: a mirror part; a pair of inner actuator parts; a pair of outer actuator parts; fixing and supporting parts; an inner actuator driving voltage supply part; and an outer actuator driving voltage supply part. A driving voltage with a frequency inducing oscillation of the mirror part in a rotating direction of the mirror part associated with resonance drive of the corresponding actuator parts can be supplied from one driving voltage supply part of the inner actuator driving voltage supply part and the outer actuator driving voltage supply part to the inner actuator parts or the outer actuator parts corresponding to the one driving voltage supply part. Simultaneously with the resonance drive, a driving voltage for inclining the mirror part without exciting resonance drive can be supplied from the other driving voltage supply part to corresponding actuator parts. |
| US08649074B2 |
Image capture apparatus and maltifunction apparatus
An image capture apparatus includes a platen, an image capturing device movable with respect to the platen along a movement direction and configured to capture an image of a medium placed on the platen, and an attached member provided adjacent to the platen. The attached member or the image capturing device includes an inclined edge inclined with respect to a movement direction of the image capturing device. |
| US08649068B2 |
Process for creating facet-specific electronic banding compensation profiles for raster output scanners
Processes are presented for creating electronic banding compensation profiles for raster output scanner (ROS) devices by printing and scanning a test pattern having a series of strips extending along a process direction and spaced from one another along a cross process (fast scan) direction, analyzing the scanned data to determine facet-specific banding errors corresponding to individual strips, and selectively adjusting banding correction profiles to counteract the banding errors. |
| US08649061B2 |
Laser print apparatus with dual halftones
A printing system comprises a memory configured to store image data representing an image. The printing system comprises a processor configured to perform a first digital halftone process on a first portion of the image and a second digital halftone process on a second portion of the image. |
| US08649054B2 |
Color registration strategy for preprinted form
A method for performing color registration on template media having template markings thereon comprises sensing the template media using a sensor to obtain first image data; printing a test pattern on the template media; sensing the template media along with the test pattern printed thereon using the sensor to obtain second image data; determining an output image data of the test pattern from the first image data, the second image data, and an estimated image data of the template media with the test pattern printed thereon; determining process direction and cross-process direction misregistrations from the output image data; and adjusting printheads based on the process direction and the cross-process direction misregistrations to provide adjusted color registration on subsequent template media. The estimated image data is representative of light scatter from the test pattern and light absorption by the test pattern. |
| US08649053B2 |
Printing relief plate producing apparatus, system, method, and recording medium
Height conversion matrices for determining heights of halftone dot convexities are generated based on raster image data. Based on the height conversion matrices and binary image data, amount-of-exposure data are generated in order to produce a printing relief plate in which the halftone dot convexities have heights at a plurality of height levels in a screen tint region, which is formed based on the binary image data. Based on the amount-of-exposure data, a printing plate material is exposed to a light beam, thereby producing a printing relief plate. |
| US08649052B2 |
Image on paper registration using transfer surface marks
A method of adjusting the registration of an image printed on sheets. The method including determining a first image location relative to a first sheet, adjusting a second image to be printed based on the determined first image location and printing the adjusted second image to subsequent sheet(s). The first image location determination made by measuring at least one dimension of a fiducial mark disposed directly on a transfer surface. The fiducial mark formed by the engagement of the first sheet with the transfer surface, whereby an inner edge of the fiducial mark forms at least a partial outline of a periphery of the first sheet. Each measured fiducial mark dimension extending from the fiducial mark inner edge to an outer edge of the fiducial mark. The fiducial mark outer edge being disposed remote from the at least partial outline of the first sheet periphery. |
| US08649050B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a memory buffer that has a plurality of band buffers for storing band data in which image data is divided into a plurality of bands; a data processing unit that performs a specific process with respect to the band data stored in the memory buffer; a storage unit having a storage area that store image data of a plurality of pages of an original of a specific size, storing processed band data that has been subjected to the specific process by the data processing unit into the storage area and, outputting a plurality of pieces of the processed band data stored in the storage area; and an output processing unit that performs a print process based on the plurality of pieces of the processed band data that is output from the storage unit. |
| US08649049B2 |
Image forming apparatus, job management method, and storage medium in which a job designated in a job list for reprinting can be securely reprinted
An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store job data transmitted from an information processing apparatus, a display unit configured to display information of the job data stored in the storage unit when an execution instruction for executing the job data is received in response to a user operation, and a deletion unit configured to determine whether the display unit displays the information of the job data and, to suspend deletion processing for deleting the job data from the storage unit in a case where the deletion unit determines that the display unit displays the information of the job data, whereas to delete the job data from the storage unit in a case where the deletion unit determines that the display unit displays no information of the job data. |
| US08649048B2 |
Memory storing data of a toner cartridge is provided, and control of transfer, fixing or the like is performed based on the data
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image under a control condition and including developing device; a toner cartridge configured to supply toner to the developing device; a measuring device configured to acquire measurement data; a first memory which is provided for the toner cartridge and includes a data reference destination for obtaining the control condition and a correction value of the control condition for standard data or a plurality of control data corresponding to the measurement data; a second memory configured to store the measurement data, the standard data, one of the correction value and the control data, and the obtained control condition; and a processing mechanism configured to read the standard data and the correction value, or the measurement data and the control data and to obtain the control condition. |
| US08649047B2 |
Dynamic ranking of service actions
Systems and methods for dynamically updating service ranks for a plurality of service actions for an electronic system are disclosed. A central computing system may receive a plurality of service actions prioritized in an order based on a service rank associated with each service action. Each service action may correspond to one or more operations performed to attempt to repair an electronic system. The central computing system may receive feedback information for one or more service actions from a first user pertaining at least to whether each service action successfully repaired a fault for the electronic system. The service rank for each service action may be updated based on at least the feedback information, and the order for the service actions may be modified based on the updated service ranks. The central computing system may provide one or more service actions to a second user based on the modified order. |
| US08649045B2 |
Information processing apparatus, processing method thereof, and computer-readable storage medium
The present invention provides an information processing apparatus that acquires image data from an image supply apparatus, and that transfers the acquired image data to an application, including: a selection unit configured to select a transfer mode when transferring the image data to the application; a first transfer control unit configured to transfer the image data to the application according to a TWAIN standard; a second transfer control unit configured to transfer an image file created based on the image data while maintaining a compression format or a non-compression format, to the application; and a transfer control unit configured to control the transfer using at least one of the first transfer control unit and the second transfer control unit based on the transfer mode selected by the selection unit. |
| US08649043B2 |
Methods of exporting print jobs from a print shop management program
A method implemented in a print shop management system for exporting print jobs from the print shop management program. The exporting method allows selection of an export job ticket format at the time of export. The export job ticket format may be a press device format suitable for consumption by a digital printing device, or an original input format that preserves the format of the original job ticket imported from an external program. For the press device format, an output job ticket in the requested format is generated from scratch based on job parameters stored in a job ticket database. For the original input format, a copy of the original job ticket is read from an input job ticket and exported; optionally, job parameters generated by the print shop management program may be incorporated into the copy of the input job ticket before exporting. |
| US08649040B2 |
Enhanced security printing method, and printing system and image forming device therefor
A printing method for printing a file stored on an external storage device attached to an image forming device includes steps of transmitting printing instruction information including first print instructing device information that specifies a print instructing device, from the print instructing device configured to issue a printing instruction to the image forming device, to the image forming device, determining whether the first print instructing device information included in the printing instruction information transmitted by the print instructing device is identical to second print instructing device information stored on the external storage device that specifies a print instructing device, and printing the file stored on the external storage device with the image forming device based upon the printing instruction information, when it is determined that the first print instructing device information is identical to the second print instructing device information. |
| US08649037B2 |
Image reading apparatus, image forming apparatus, method of reading image, and recording medium for reading original-document image and generating image data of the original-document image
An image reading apparatus reads an original-document image and generates image data of the original-document image, and includes an image reading unit, a security pattern detection unit, and a main control unit. The image reading unit reads the original-document image and sequentially generates the image data of the original-document image as a plurality of pieces of band data. The security pattern detection unit performs security pattern detection processing on band data of a single band to detect a portion or an entirety of a security pattern included therein. The main control unit causes the security pattern detection unit to perform the security pattern detection processing on band data of a single band having the lowest background color density and not on band data of a single band having the greatest background color density, among the plurality of pieces of band data. |
| US08649036B2 |
Image forming apparatus and computer readable medium storing program for authenticating print job information of a print job
An image forming apparatus includes: a print command receiving unit that receives print command information indicating a print command; an authentication determination unit that determines whether or not the print command information received by the print command receiving unit includes authentication requirement information indicating that authentication is required upon print processing based on the print command; a determination unit that, when the authentication determination unit has determined that the print command information includes the authentication requirement information, determines whether or not an originator of the print command information and a user who performs the print processing based on the print command information are different; and a notification unit that, when the determination unit has determined that the originator of the print command information and the user who performs the print processing are different, notifies the user who performs the print processing of presence of the print command information. |
| US08649034B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a controller and memory unit
An image forming apparatus includes a mounting portion on which an external memory device is mountable, a detecting unit that detects mounting or non-mounting of the external memory device to the mounting portion, a printing unit that prints data acquired from the external memory device, a memory unit that stores the data, and a controller. The controller is operable to control the printing unit to reprint the data stored on the memory unit, and prohibit the data from being reprinted when a detection result by the detecting unit indicates non-mounting of the external memory device. |
| US08649033B2 |
Systems and method for monitoring consumable supply levels in one or more printers
A system for monitoring consumable supply levels in one or more printers includes a printer server for periodically polling the one or more printers for an indication of a supply level of one or more consumables in each printer. The printer server comprises a polling algorithm that dynamically adjusts a polling rate at which the one or more printers are polled. A method of monitoring consumable supply levels in one or more printers includes periodically polling the one or more printers for an indication of a supply level of one or more consumables in each printer; and automatically adjusting a polling rate at which the one or more printers are polled. |
| US08649032B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium
If the RIP processing time of a specific page of a plurality of pages in a processing block exceeds a predetermined time, the RIP processing of the specific page is not yet completed, and the RIP processing of pages preceding the specific page is already completed, an image processing apparatus sets a processing block that includes only the RIP processing completed pages preceding the specific page. The number of pages included in the newly set processing block is less than a predetermined number of pages. |
| US08649030B2 |
Controlling an information processing apparatus on which a plurality of printer drivers are installed
With an information processing apparatus configured such that an OS holds a print setting value of a printer, it is possible to change print settings to those that match the user's intention, when a printer to be used is changed. When the user has selected a printer to be used from a plurality of printers through a user interface provided by the OS, a printer driver among a plurality of printer drivers corresponding to the printer used after the change displays a user interface that displays a message to the effect that the printer has been changed. By this user interface, the user is allowed to select one of a plurality of presets held by the OS. After the selection, information of the selected preset is supplied to the OS. |
| US08649028B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method for establishing a connection with a USB device driver and application
An image forming apparatus has a connection terminal for connecting and disconnecting a plug-in device, which is configured to be plugged into the connection terminal. The image forming apparatus includes a driver controller that activates a device driver corresponding to the plug-in device in accordance with detection of insertion of the plug-in device. The device driver establishes a connection with an application in response to a connection request from the application that uses the plug-in device. |
| US08649027B2 |
Multifunction apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium with a display program recorded thereon for multifunction apparatus
A multifunction apparatus having plurality types of functions and a display device that indicates one of the functions including: a selection device that is operated so as to select a function to be used among the plurality types of functions; and a display control device that makes the display device display information regarding the function selected with the selection device in an appearance that is different from appearances for rest of the plurality types of functions. |
| US08649026B2 |
Paper-sheet management method and paper-sheet management system
A first identification number obtained by performing character recognition of each of a plurality of digits of an identification number and allocating predetermined characters to digits where characters cannot be determined and a second identification number representing an identification number that is the target of character recognition processing or search processing are compared with each other by calculating a matching ratio between the two numbers. When the matching ratio is lower than a predetermined reference value, a shifted identification number obtained by shifting each character forming the first identification number one digit in a predetermined direction and the second identification number are compared with each other by calculating a matching ratio between the two numbers. If this matching ratio is equal to or higher than the predetermined reference value, subsequent processing is continued, so that the shifted identification number is treated as the first identification number. |
| US08649024B2 |
Non-contact surface characterization using modulated illumination
Methods for forming a three-dimensional image of a test object include directing light to a surface of best-focus of an imaging optic, where the light has an intensity modulation in at least one direction in the surface of best-focus, scanning a test object relative to the imaging optic so that a surface of the measurement object passes through the surface of best-focus of the imaging optic as the test object is scanned, acquiring, for each of a series of positions of the test object during the scan, a single image of the measurement object using the imaging optic, in which the intensity modulation of the light in the surface of best-focus is different for successive images, and forming a three-dimensional image of the test object based on the acquired images. |
| US08649022B2 |
Interferometric material sensing apparatus including adjustable coupling and associated methods
A material sensing apparatus comprises an excitation source configured to induce waves in a workpiece, and an optical waveguide interferometer configured to sense the induced waves in the workpiece. The optical waveguide interferometer comprises a probe segment having a probe segment end, and an adjustable coupler configured to permit setting a gap between the probe segment end and the workpiece. A controller is coupled to the adjustable coupler and configured to set the gap between the probe segment end and the workpiece. |
| US08649021B2 |
Interferometric sensing apparatus including adjustable coupling and associated methods
A sensing apparatus comprises an excitation source configured to induce waves in a target, and a fiber optic interferometer configured to sense the induced waves in the target. The fiber optic interferometer comprises a probe segment having a probe segment end, and an adjustable coupler configured to permit setting a gap between the probe segment end and the target. A controller is coupled to the adjustable coupler and configured to set the gap between the probe segment end and the target. |
| US08649013B2 |
Probe for gas analysis
A probe for gas analysis is provided in a pipe through which sample gas flows. The probe includes a tubular member and one or more sample gas inflow portions. The tubular member is disposed to cross a flow of the sample gas, and includes a measurement field to which the sample gas is introduced. The one or more sample gas inflow portions are provided in the tubular member. The sample gas flows around, and flows into the measurement field through the one or more sample gas inflow portions. |
| US08649012B2 |
Optical gas sensor
An optical gas sensor with a light-emitting diode (2), a photosensor (8), a measuring section between the light-emitting diode and the photosensor, and a control and analyzing unit (16), which is set up to determine the concentration of a gas in the measuring section from the light intensity measurement by the photosensor. The control and analyzing unit (16) is set up to measure the forward diode voltage over the light-emitting diode at a constant current, to determine the temperature of the light-emitting diode from the detected forward diode voltage over the light-emitting diode by means of a preset temperature dependence of the forward diode voltage, and to apply a correction function as a function of the light-emitting diode temperature determined, with which the measurement is converted to that of a preset temperature of the light-emitting diode. |
| US08649008B2 |
Combined spectral and polarimetry imaging and diagnostics
Combined spectral and polarimetry imaging and diagnostic techniques are disclosed, including an imaging system that simultaneously records spatially co-registered spectral and polarization information from an image of a target scene such as an ocular structure or material or device in an around the eye. Image acquisition and image calibration by such an imaging system or an imaging spectrometer or polarimeter are also disclosed. Methods of data storage and image display relevant to medical practice in general and ophthalmology practice specifically are further disclosed. |
| US08649002B2 |
Imaging system
An imaging system may include an optical system that forms an image of light irradiated onto a sample in a predetermined focal plane, an imaging element that includes a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, each of the pixels detecting at least a part of the light of the image of the sample formed in the focal plane, the imaging element obtaining the image of the sample corresponding to the light detected by the pixel array, a spectrum detecting unit arranged to be adjacent to the pixel array, the spectrum detecting unit detecting a spectrum of the light in the focal plane to output spectrum information, and a correcting unit that corrects the image of the sample obtained by the imaging element based on the spectrum information output from the spectrum detecting unit. |
| US08648996B2 |
Light-reflecting film and production method thereof
A method of producing a light-reflecting film having a light-reflecting layer on a resin film and reflecting 30% or more of incident light of a wavelength in the range of 800 to 2000 nm, includes a step of curing a cholesteric liquid crystal phase to form the light-reflecting layer, the cholesteric liquid crystal phase is obtained by mixing a chiral agent having an HTP of 30 μm−1 or more expressed by Expression 1 into a starting solution by an in-line mixing method while supplying the starting solution prepared by dissolving a curable liquid crystal compound in a solvent, coating the resin film with the resultant coating solution, and drying the resultant. |
| US08648994B2 |
Liquid crystal display element and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed are a liquid crystal display element exhibiting a continuous gradation memory property as well as different display properties substantially similar to those of a liquid crystal display element having nematic liquid crystals, while enabling continuous tone display, and a method for manufacturing the same. |
| US08648993B2 |
Combined serial/parallel light configuration and single layer PCB containing the same
An LED circuit using a combination of series and parallel arrangements for optimum current sharing between LEDs. The current paths allow an LED to fail while minimizing the effect on other LEDs and noticeable luminance variance across the circuit. Some embodiments use metallic PCB technology which permits optimal thermal regulation of heat generated by the LEDs. Exemplary embodiments can be used with a single-layer PCB where only one layer of conducting material must be placed on the substrate. A constricted convection plate may be positioned behind the rear surface of the PCB to define a channel. One or more fans may be positioned to force cooling air through the channel. An LCD assembly using the same is also disclosed. |
| US08648986B2 |
Symmetric diffusion film and flat panel display applied with the same
A symmetric diffusion film (SDF) and a flat panel display applied with the same are provided. The SDF comprises at least two different materials of a first material having a first refractive index mixed with a second material having a second refractive index, and the first refractive index is different from the second refractive index. The flat panel display comprises a symmetric diffusion film (SDF) disposed at one side of the upper polarizer, and the upper polarizer adapting no compensation film. |
| US08648980B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
Provided is a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display panel, a liquid crystal display protection panel set above the liquid crystal display panel so as to protect a display surface of the liquid crystal display panel, the liquid crystal display protection panel being warped with its central portion being protruded, and a frame supporting the liquid crystal display panel and the liquid crystal display protection panel. |
| US08648979B2 |
Lighting device, display device and television receiver
An object of the present invention is to reduce the tendency that local deformation occurs in an extending member in a backlight unit. A backlight unit 12 of the present invention includes LEDs 17 as light sources, a chassis 14 that stores the LEDs 17, a reflection sheet 21 and an LED substrate 18 as extending members extending along an inner surface of the chassis 14 and a holding member 20 that holds the reflection sheet 21 and the LED substrate 18 with the chassis 14 such that the reflection sheet 21 and the LED substrate 18 are sandwiched between the holding member 20 and the chassis 14. The holding member 20 is fixed to the chassis 14. The holding member 20 includes contact portions 26 that protrude toward the reflection sheet 21 and the LED substrate 18. The contact portions 26 are in contact with the reflection sheet 21 and the LED substrate 18. |
| US08648977B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing a floating seal having an isolated sealing surface for chamber doors
A method is provided that includes isolating a sealing surface from a chamber wall of a chamber and sealing the chamber between the sealing surface and the chamber wall. An apparatus is provided that includes a chamber wall section prone to deflection, a stationary section providing a sealing surface, and a flexible bellows attached to the chamber wall section and the stationary section. A system is also provided that includes a chamber including a chamber wall having an opening, a door disposed to seal the opening, a sealing surface adjacent the opening and isolated from the chamber wall, and a seal between the sealing surface and the chamber wall. Numerous other aspects are provided. |
| US08648976B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method thereof
A technique that can prevent breakdown of a thin film transistor due to static electricity is provided. A manufacturing method of a display device includes, in forming a plurality of thin film transistors constituting a drive circuit outside a display region as an assembly of pixels, forming a first wiring that is connected to gate electrodes of the thin film transistors to cause the thin film transistors to perform generating operation of a drive signal and a second wiring that connects gate electrodes of the thin film transistors adjacent to one another in the forming region of the drive unit in the same layer as the first wiring, and cutting the second wiring after forming the connected thin film transistors. |
| US08648973B2 |
Liquid crystal display with reduced parasitic capacitance variation
A liquid crystal display capable of operating with little parasitic capacitance variation is presented. The display includes a substrate, a gate line disposed on the substrate, a storage electrode line disposed on the substrate and having a main portion that extends parallel with the gate line, a data line crossing the gate line and the storage electrode line and including a source electrode, a drain electrode facing the source electrode; and a pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode, wherein the storage electrode line includes a plurality of storage electrodes extending from the main portion in the same direction as the data line, and the storage electrodes overlap different regions of the data line. |
| US08648972B2 |
Switchable two dimensional / three dimensional display (2D/3D display) comprising a switchable barrier having a three dimensional image control area and a first black matrix and a second black matrix that surrounds the three dimensional image control area
A switchable two dimensional/three dimensional display (2D/3D display) suitable for being viewed by a user is provided. The switchable 2D/3D display includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and a switchable barrier which are overlapped with each other. The LCD panel has a display area, a non-display area surrounding the display area, and a first black matrix extending from the display area to the non-display area. The first black matrix has a plurality of openings arranged in array and merely distributed within the display area. The switchable barrier has a 3D image control area, a non-display area surrounding the 3D image control area, and a second black matrix merely disposed within the non-display area. The second black matrix surrounds the 3D image control area. An area occupied by the 3D image control area is different from an area occupied by the display area. |
| US08648971B2 |
Multiple view liquid crystal display
In a multiple view liquid crystal display, occurrence of a reverse view phenomenon and a reverse view crosstalk are suppressed. A black matrix is formed on the opposed surface of a counter substrate to a TFT substrate in a liquid crystal panel, and a parallax barrier is provided on the black matrix with a gap layer having a predetermined thickness interposed therebetween. The black matrix includes a first light blocking part disposed immediately below an opening in the parallax barrier, and a second light blocking part with a portion immediate thereabove covered by the parallax barrier. The second light blocking part includes a low refractive-index film (reverse view preventive film), having a lower refractive index than that of a liquid crystal, at the end thereof which is in contact with a pixel opening between the second light blocking part and the adjacent first light blocking part. |
| US08648970B2 |
Remote controllable video display system and controller and method therefor
The present invention discloses a remote controllable video display system and a controller therefor, wherein positional information is generated by a sensor according to light from a light source. The controller includes a button with a predetermined function, wherein when the button is pressed or released, the status of the button (pressed or released) is outputted but (i) the positional information is not outputted or not processed within a predetermined period of time; or (ii) the positional information is not outputted or not processed when the remote controller has an acceleration larger than a predetermined value. Or, when the button is pressed once, the controller outputs double-click or multiple-click action information. |
| US08648969B2 |
Brightness adjusting device, display device, computer-readable recording medium, and brightness adjusting method
A brightness adjusting device of the present invention includes: a brightness setting section that accepts input of brightness change information that is an instruction to change a brightness setting value; a brightness adjusting section that performs brightness adjustment by either one of a first brightness adjusting unit and a second brightness adjusting unit having different characteristics from each other, in accordance with the instruction that is input from the brightness setting section; a determining section that determines whether or not the brightness adjustment of the brightness adjusting section switches from the first brightness adjusting unit to the second brightness adjusting unit; and an output section that outputs an alarm when the brightness adjustment of the brightness adjusting section is determined to switch from the first brightness adjusting unit to the second brightness adjusting unit based on a determination result of the determining section. |
| US08648968B2 |
Saturation adjusting apparatus and method thereof
A saturation adjusting apparatus for processing a pixel, which has three color components each having a value falling within a range defined by upper and lower extreme values, of a RGB color model includes an extreme value controller and a component adjuster. The extreme value controller determines maximum and minimum extreme value thresholds for ensuring that the values of the color components of the pixel after undergoing linear color correction processing based on a correction indicator fall within the range defined by the upper and lower extreme values. The component adjuster includes a decision-making unit for choosing the correction indicator from a group of values which includes the maximum extreme value threshold, the minimum extreme value threshold, and a saturation setting. The component adjuster further includes a color corrector for performing linear color correction processing on the three color components of the pixel using the correction indicator. |
| US08648967B2 |
Video signal processing device and method
A multiband signal generator generates multiband signals from 21 lines of input data by using a subset of N lines with each line delayed from 1 line to N lines respectively. M line buffers delay the multiband signals such that each line is delayed from 1 line to M lines respectively. An analyzer detects correlations between video data by selecting regions with a maximum size M×M in the multiband signals, and analyzes characteristics of the video data. A multiband signal generator generates multiband signals with cutoff frequencies based on an analysis result from the analyzer, by using the data from 1-line through N-line delayed multiband signal. An amplitude adjuster and synthesizer unit adjusts and synthesizes amplitudes of the multiband signals. |
| US08648966B2 |
Terminal for broadcasting and method of controlling the same
A terminal including a communication unit configured to receive a broadcasting signal, a display unit configured to display a broadcast content included in the received broadcasting signal and to display at least one widget application, and a control unit configured to determine if the received broadcasting signal includes a caption related to the broadcast content, to determine if the caption is to be displayed at a position that will overlap with at least a portion of the displayed widget application when the caption is included in the broadcasting signal, and to move a position of the widget application on the display unit if the caption is determined to be displayed at the position that will overlap with said at least the portion of the displayed widget application. |
| US08648963B2 |
Eyeball device for use in robots
Various embodiments of an eyeball device for use in robots are provided. In one embodiment, the eyeball device has an eyeball, a main part having a camera, a frame having first and second sections, first and second actuators, a first connecting member and a second connecting member. The first section is horizontally pivotally coupled to the main part relative to the main part, while the second section vertically pivotally supports the eyeball. The first and second actuators produce rotary motions. The first connecting member is coupled to the first section and the first actuator to connecting the rotary motion of the first actuator to the first section. The second connecting member is coupled to the eyeball and the second actuator to transmit the rotary motion of the second actuator to the eyeball. The eyeball horizontally pivots through the first connecting member and vertically pivots through the second connecting member. |
| US08648961B2 |
Image capturing apparatus and image capturing method
An image capturing apparatus has a function of automatically focusing on an object to be photographed. The apparatus includes a first image-obtaining unit that includes a picture-taking lens which includes a focusing lens, and a first imaging sensor to obtain a first image of the object; a second image-obtaining unit that includes a range-finding lens and a second imaging sensor to obtain a second image of the object; a range finder that calculates a distance to the object by using the first image data and the second image data; and a focus control unit that moves the focusing lens according to the distance calculated by the range finder to attain focus on the object. The range finder includes an image-forming-position determining unit which determines a first image forming position and a second image forming position, based on which a distance calculating unit calculates a distance to the object. |
| US08648960B2 |
Digital photographing apparatus and control method thereof
Embodiments include a digital photographing apparatus and a control method thereof. The digital photographing apparatus detects two or more face regions from an input image, calculates an aperture value for focusing on all face regions to notify a user of the calculated value, and photographs all focused faces by automatically changing the aperture value, when the subject to be photographed is a plurality of persons. |
| US08648958B2 |
Variable imaging arrangements and methods therefor
Various approaches to imaging involve selecting directional and spatial resolution. According to an example embodiment, images are computed using an imaging arrangement to facilitate selective directional and spatial aspects of the detection and processing of light data. Light passed through a main lens is directed to photosensors via a plurality of microlenses. The separation between the microlenses and photosensors is set to facilitate directional and/or spatial resolution in recorded light data, and facilitating refocusing power and/or image resolution in images computed from the recorded light data. In one implementation, the separation is varied between zero and one focal length of the microlenses to respectively facilitate spatial and directional resolution (with increasing directional resolution, hence refocusing power, as the separation approaches one focal length). |
| US08648957B2 |
Camera module comprising a lens assembly and a sensor assembly and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed is a camera module. The camera module includes a lens assembly including a wafer level optics lens (WLO), and a sensor assembly on which the lens assembly is mounted through a surface mount technology (SMT). In the camera module, a lens is directly mounted on a sensor die through the SMT, so that the manufacturing process can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. A height of the camera module is lowered, so that a slim camera module can be realized. |
| US08648950B2 |
Image sensor for minimizing variation of control signal level
There is provided an image sensor capable of minimizing level variations of a control signal inputted to a unit pixel. The image sensor includes a plurality of unit pixels, each supplied with a first power voltage for converting an inputted signal into an electrical signal; and a control block supplied with a second power voltage for providing control signals to each unit pixel in order to stably operate each unit pixel, wherein the control block includes a conversion unit for outputting the control signals under the first power voltage, not the second power voltage. |
| US08648949B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus and driving method, in which pseudosignals from an amplifier are suppressed, and in which fixed pattern noises and shading are reduced
A solid state imaging apparatus of less fixed pattern noises and less shading comprises an imaging area wherein a plurality of pixel circuits are arranged in two dimensionally, and each of the pixel circuits includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements each for generating an electric charge by a photoelectric conversion and for accumulating the electric charge, a single floating diffusion portion for accumulating the charge, a plurality of transfer switches for transferring the electric charges respectively from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements to the single floating diffusion portion and an amplifying transistor for amplifying a voltage corresponding to the electric charge accumulated by the floating diffusion portion, wherein the plurality of transfer switches transfers the electric charges from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements sequentially to the floating diffusion portion while maintaining the amplifying transistors at the activation state. |
| US08648938B2 |
Detecting red eye filter and apparatus using meta-data
A method of filtering a red-eye phenomenon from an acquired digital image including a multiplicity of pixels indicative of color, the pixels forming various shapes of the image, includes analyzing meta-data information, determining one or more regions within the digital image suspected as including red eye artifact, and determining, based at least in part on the meta-data analysis, whether the regions are actual red eye artifact. The meta-data information may include information describing conditions under which the image was acquired, captured and/or digitized, acquisition device-specific information, and film information. |
| US08648936B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
A recovery processing unit performs an image quality recovery processing of reducing a blur in an image using a filter to reduce a blur at an image height position for each image height on a line from the center position of the image to an end of the image. |
| US08648933B2 |
Image sensing apparatus and method for controlling the same
The present invention provides an image sensing apparatus including an encoding unit for converting video from an image sensing unit so as to generate stream data, and store the stream data in a buffer unit, a control unit for controlling the encoding unit, in a case where, in a fixed time recording mode for recording for a fixed time in response to an instruction to start recording, a second instruction to start recording is issued before the fixed time has elapsed since a first instruction to start recording was issued, to store in the buffer unit stream data that lasts for the fixed time corresponding to the first instruction to start recording, and stream data that lasts for the fixed time corresponding to the second instruction to start recording, and a recording unit for recording each piece of stream data stored in the buffer unit on a recording medium. |
| US08648932B2 |
System, apparatus and methods for providing a single use imaging device for sterile environments
A system, apparatus and methods for providing a single use imaging device for sterile environments is disclosed and described. A single use high definition camera used for general purpose surgical procedures including, but not limited to: arthroscopic, laparoscopic, gynecologic, and urologic procedures, may comprise an imaging device that is a sterile and designed to ensure single use. The imaging device may have a single imaging sensor, either CCD (charge coupled device) or CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor), encased in a housing. The imaging device may further include the ability to be attached to an optical coupling device, using C-Mount threads or another proprietary or unique connection method. The imaging device may further include a cable to transmit data to and from a camera control unit. |
| US08648931B2 |
Systems and methods for capturing images of objects
A method for generating an image object, performed by a mobile electronic device, comprises the following steps. The mobile electronic device comprises multiple shutter objects, and each shutter object corresponds to an orientation type. A signal generated by one of the shutter objects is detected. A orientation type is determined according to the shutter object generating the signal. The image object with the determined orientation type is stored. |
| US08648924B2 |
Computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon image generation program, capturing apparatus, capturing system, and image generation method for generating a combination image on a display of the capturing apparatus
In an exemplary capturing apparatus, a captured image is acquired in real time. A first face area is detected from a plurality of face areas included in the captured image thus acquired, and a first face image corresponding to the first face area is acquired. Then, a face combination image is generated by replacing at least a part of a second face area with the first face image. |
| US08648921B2 |
Transmission apparatus, method, and program
A transmission apparatus includes: setting means for setting a transmission target period during which transmission data is transmitted to a destination apparatus; control means for resizing the transmission data in such a way that the size thereof becomes smaller than or equal to a total transfer data size of the transmission data, the total transfer data size determined based on the transmission target period; and transmission means for transmitting the transmission data having been resized by the control means to the destination apparatus. |
| US08648919B2 |
Methods and systems for image stabilization
Several methods, devices and systems for stabilizing images and correcting rolling shutter effects are described. In one embodiment, a computer implemented method for image stabilization for an image-capturing device with associated calibration data includes determining motion data for the image-capturing device using a motion-estimating device. The method also includes matching motion data to a sequence of frames captured by the image-capturing device to determine motion data for each frame, constructing a target motion path of the image-capturing device based on the motion data for each frame, and computing a desired motion correction from a motion path observed in the motion data to the target motion path. |
| US08648915B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
An image processing apparatus that records image data on a detachable storage medium in a previously set recording format is provided. The apparatus sets the recording format of image data, and determines whether or not a storage medium attached to an attachment unit has a communication function that communicates with a different apparatus than the image processing apparatus. If it is determined that the storage medium has a communication function, and that the recording format of image data that can be transferred by the communication function does not match the recording format that has been set, the apparatus issues a warning. |
| US08648913B2 |
Missing code redistribution in pipeline analog to digital converter
A stage of pipeline analog to digital converter (ADC) includes a multiplying digital to analog converter (MDAC) and a sub-analog to digital converter (sub-ADC). The sub-ADC includes a comparator and a random offset controller. The comparator is coupled to compare a first analog signal received by the stage with a reference signal. The random offset controller is coupled to the comparator to apply a random offset to an input of the comparator to randomly distribute errors by the sub-ADC in a digital output of the pipeline ADC. |
| US08648911B2 |
Communication system, control device, and reception device
A control device divides one frame into plural sub-frames, distributes image signals of an embedded image, which is provided to only specific users, to the plural sub-frames such that a sum of signal levels in the one frame is zero, and superimposes the image signals on an image signal of a basic image provided to unspecified people and causes a display device to display the embedded image. The reception device shoots an image displayed on the display device in each period that is the same as the period of the sub-frame and calculates the difference between two image signals obtained in each period that is the same as the period of the sub-frame to acquire and display an image signal of the embedded image. |
| US08648907B2 |
Image processing apparatus
An exemplary image processing apparatus comprises: a polarized light source section; an image capturing section which sequentially captures an image of the object that is being illuminated with each of three or more plane polarized light rays; and an image processing section. The image processing section includes: a varying intensity processing section which calculates a state of polarized light reflected from the object's surface; a reflection decision section which distinguishes a multi-reflection region in which incoming light is reflected twice from a recessed region from a once-reflected region in which the incoming light is reflected only once from the object's surface; and a mirror image search section which locates a pair of multi-reflection regions. Based on the pair of multi-reflection regions, the image processing section generates an image representing the recessed region on the object's surface. |
| US08648905B2 |
Transparent body inspecting device
A transparent body inspecting device includes a light application unit, an image capturing unit, an image capture driving unit, and a defect determining unit. The image capturing unit is moved in the directions in which the image capturing unit is brought close to and away from the upper surface of the transparent body, and the image capturing unit captures a plurality of images of the transparent body during the movement. The images are captured while the position of the depth of field of the image capturing unit is adjusted to more than one spots inside the transparent body. When brightness of pixels in the captured image is nonuniform, the defect determining unit determines that a defect exists within the depth of field at the time of capture of the image. |
| US08648904B2 |
Projector, image projection method, and head-up display device using the projector
A projector projecting an image on an object by scanning the object with a light beam includes a light source; a divergence angle converter converting the divergence angle of the light beam; a light deflector deflecting the light beam in a light beam scanning direction and a direction perpendicular to the light beam scanning direction; alight deflector drive controller controlling the light deflector to form the focused light spots at the respective pixel positions of the object on the basis of positional data for the pixels; a light amount controller controlling light amount of the light beam on the basis of luminance data for the pixels; and an image processor correcting the luminance data on the basis of previously obtained deterioration data of the projected image and outputting the corrected luminance data to the light amount controller while outputting the positional data to the light deflector drive controller. |
| US08648903B2 |
Device for evaluating images of weld spots on a carrier material
The invention relates to a device (22) for evaluating an image (20) produced on a carrier material (8) by spot welding of a weld spot (19) using an optical image-detecting unit (23), comprising a camera (24) which consists of at least one detection means (25) and one lens (26). In order to create an evaluation device (22), by means of which the optical quality testing of spot-weld joints can be improved, the image-detecting means (23) comprises an illumination device (27) with a diffusor (28) for diffusively and homogeneously illuminating an image (20) of the spot-welding on the carrier material (8). Furthermore, the invention relates to a welding tool (1) for a spot-welding plant, in particular a welding gun (2), having an evaluation device (22) for analyzing an image (20) of a spot weld (19) on a carrier material (8). |
| US08648900B2 |
Video observation of a patient's face during a medical procedure while the patient is in a prone position
Apparatus that allows at least one feature of a patient's face to be observed while the patient is in a prone position includes a facial cushion, a video camera and a monitor. The facial cushion provides cranial support for a patient in a prone position during a medical procedure. The cushion has a frontal aperture that is dimensioned so that the facial feature of a patient wearing the facial cushion and in a prone position are visible through the at least one aperture. The video camera has a lens disposed for providing a sequence of video signals representing sequential images of the facial features that are visible through the frontal aperture. The monitor is coupled to the video camera for enabling the images of the at least one facial feature to be monitored. The images are monitored by a video monitor and/or a computer. |
| US08648895B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing three-dimensional measurement
A control processing unit simultaneously drives cameras to produce images of a measuring object, the control processing unit searches corresponding point on a comparative image produced by one of the cameras for a representative point in a reference image produced by the other camera, and the control processing unit computes a three-dimensional coordinate corresponding to a coordinate using the coordinate of each point correlated by the search. The control processing unit also obtains a shift amount at the corresponding point specified by the search to an epipolar line specified based on a coordinate of a representative point on the reference image side or a parameter indicating a relationship between the cameras, and the control processing unit supplies the shift amount as an evaluation value indicating accuracy of three-dimensional measurement along with three-dimensional measurement result. |
| US08648894B2 |
Virtual inmate visitation
Included are systems and methods for a virtual inmate visitation. Some embodiments include providing a scheduling user interface for a visitor to schedule a video visitation, receiving a visitor scheduling request for the video visitation with an inmate, and determining a visitor type for the visitor. Some embodiments include providing, based on the visitor type, a scheduling option, providing a visitor payment mechanism that depends on the visitor type, and providing a video visitation user interface to the visitor for conducting the video visitation between the visitor and the inmate. Still some embodiment include in response to receiving a visitor input, conduct the video visitation between the visitor and the inmate, determining whether the video visitation includes an unacceptable activity and performing a preventative measure. |
| US08648892B2 |
Image forming apparatus to detect and correct density variations in a developed image
Apparatus that forms an image according to image information includes density sensors that detect image density variations in main and sub-scanning directions. A processing device generates correction data for correcting a light source output to suppress the density variations based on detection results. The processing device modifies the correction data such that the light source output after the correction is at least a minimum rated output at a position at which the output after the correction is lower than the minimum rated output, in the relation between a position on the surface of the photosensitive element in the main-scanning direction and the output after the correction, and modifies the correction data such that the light source output after the correction is at most a maximum rated output at a position at which the output after the correction is higher than the maximum rated output. |
| US08648891B2 |
Printer with pivotally overlapping display and cover
A printer comprises a body, a display pivotally coupled to the body, and a cover pivotally coupled to the body. The display and the cover can be positioned relative to each other such that the cover overlaps the display when the display is not in use. |
| US08648890B2 |
Head pressurizing force adjusting device, image forming apparatus and method of adjusting head pressurizing force
According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a first sensor, a second sensor, a first head, a first head pressurizing force adjusting device, a second head, a second head pressurizing force adjusting device, and a control unit. The first and second sensors detect a recording medium. The first head forms an image on a first surface of the recording medium and the second head forms an image on a second surface of the recording medium. The first head pressurizing force adjusting device adjusts a pressurizing force of the first head to the first platen and the second head pressurizing force adjusting device adjusts a pressurizing force of the second head to the second platen. The control unit controls the first head pressurizing force adjusting device and the second head pressurizing force adjusting device based on outputs of the first and second sensors. |
| US08648888B2 |
Image display device and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention relates to an image display device and a method of manufacturing the image display device that make it possible to form pixels with a smaller number of sub-pixels as compared with a case where one pixel is formed so as to separately include one each of sub-pixels of three colors of R, G, and B, and make full-color display by making the sub-pixels emit light by time division. The present invention can provide an image display device that makes it possible to reduce the number of sub-pixels and form pixels at a high density by sharing respective sub-pixels between pixels and displaying the sub-pixels by time division and thus realize high picture quality and reduction in the number of parts. |
| US08648881B2 |
Method and apparatus for image processing for in-vehicle cameras
An image processing apparatus has stored therein in advance, as image conversion parameters to coordinate-convert images acquired by in-vehicle cameras incorporated at different positions in an own vehicle, directions connecting between a sight-line starting position of a driver and predetermined positions of the own vehicle, values of a depression angle from the sight-line starting position of the driver, and a range that the driver is caused to visualize, for each of the in-vehicle cameras, corresponding to a state of the own vehicle. The image processing apparatus receives from the driver an input of a display output condition, and determines a current state of the own vehicle. The image processing apparatus acquires the image conversion parameters based on the display output condition and the current state of the own vehicle, and converts images captured by the in-vehicle cameras, by using the acquired image conversion parameters, and outputs the images. |
| US08648880B2 |
Terminal device, display method, and application computer program product
A terminal device includes a display unit having at least a first display area and a second display area, a detection unit configured to detect a viewing state in which the first display area and/or the second display area are being viewed, and a control unit configured to, when a predetermined application is executed, perform control on the basis of the viewing state detected by the detection unit, for switching between a state in which display is performed on either one of the first display area and the second display area and display is not performed on the other one of the first display area and the second display area and a state in which display is performed on both the first display area and the second display area. A method and computer program storage device holding computer readable instructions cooperate to form a system that performs these functions. |
| US08648876B2 |
Display device
There is provided a display including a display unit which periodically arranges and displays a plurality of view images, an acquisition unit which acquires information on a position of an observer, a calculation unit which sets a target viewing zone based on the information on the position of the observer, and a control unit which selects an arrangement of the view images that gives a viewing zone similar to the target viewing zone. |
| US08648872B2 |
Systems and methods for rapid three-dimensional modeling with real facade texture
A computer system is described for automatically generating a three-dimensional model of a structure. The computer system includes hardware and one or more non-transitory computer readable medium accessible by the hardware and storing instructions that when executed by the hardware cause the hardware to: locate multiple oblique images containing a real façade texture of a structure having a geographical position from one or more database of oblique images; select a base oblique image from the multiple oblique images by analyzing, with selection logic, image raster content of the real façade texture depicted in the multiple oblique images, the selection logic using a factorial analysis of the image raster content; and, relate the real façade texture of the base oblique image to the three dimensional model to provide a real-life representation of physical characteristics of the structure within the three-dimensional model. |
| US08648870B1 |
Method and apparatus for performing frame buffer rendering of rich internet content on display devices
A method and apparatus for performing frame buffer rendering of rich Internet content on a display device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of performing frame buffer rendering of rich Internet content on a display device is disclosed. The method comprises storing content in a frame buffer according to a frame update rate, wherein the frame buffer comprises a portion of the rich Internet content, determining a consumption rate for presenting the content of the frame buffer on the display device, and adjusting the frame update rate according to the determined consumption rate. |
| US08648866B2 |
Facial animation system and production method
A facial animation production method for producing 3-dimensional (3D) facial animation data in response to input video data includes the following steps. First, data positioning and character sorting processes are performed on the input video data to acquire first-layer character data, for indicating multiple first-layer character points, and first-layer model data. Next, first-layer model outline data and first-layer character outline data are respectively obtained according to the first-layer model data and the first-layer character data. Then, the first-layer character outline data is compared with the first-layer model outline data to judge whether a judgment condition is satisfied. If not, output character data are produced according to the first-layer character data, and fundamental facial-mesh transformation data are thus produced. Thereafter, the 3D facial animation data are displayed according to the fundamental facial-mesh transformation data. |
| US08648856B2 |
Omnidirectional shadow texture mapping
An invention is provided for rendering using an omnidirectional light. A shadow cube texture map having six cube faces centered by a light source is generated. Each cube face comprises a shadow texture having depth data from a perspective of the light source. In addition, each cube face is associated with an axis of a three-dimensional coordinate system. For each object fragment rendered from the camera's perspective a light-to-surface vector is defined from the light source to the object fragment, and particular texels within particular cube faces are selected based on the light-to-surface vector. The texel values are tested against a depth value computed from the light to surface vector. The object fragment is textured as in light or shadow according to the outcome of the test. |
| US08648853B2 |
Anatomical recognition, orientation and display of an upper torso to assist breast surgery
Various methods, techniques or modules are provided to allow for the automated analysis of the 3-D representation of the upper front torso (i) to recognize 3-D anatomical features, (ii) to orient the subject with reference to their anatomy or a display, (iii) to determine dimensional analysis including direct point-to-point lines, 3-D surface lines, and volume values, (iv) to simulate the outcome with the addition of breast implants including breast and nipple positioning, (v) to assist in the selection of the breast implants, and/or (vi) to assist in the planning of breast surgery. The automated analysis is based on the analysis of changes in a 3-D contour map of the upper torso, orientation analysis of 3-D features and planes, color analysis of 3-D features, and/or dimensional analysis of 3-D features and positions of the upper torso. |
| US08648850B2 |
Method and apparatus for compensating for display defect of flat panel display
A method and apparatus for controlling picture quality of a flat panel display capable of electrically compensating for a display defect of a display panel are disclosed. The method of compensating for a display defect of a flat panel display includes reading identification information of a display panel; generating positional information indicating the position of the display defect and the form of the display defect of the display panel on the basis of first input information and the identification information; generating a compensation value for compensating the degree of the display defect of on the basis of second input information; storing the positional information and the compensation value in a memory; and reading the positional information and the compensation value from the memory, modulating data to be displayed at the position of the display defect of the display panel by the compensation value, and displaying the modulated data on the display panel. |
| US08648848B2 |
Display device and displaying method thereof, and driving circuit for current-driven device
The present invention provides a display device, a displaying method thereof and a driving circuit for current-driven device. Each pixel of the display device includes a current-driven device and a driving circuit. A first terminal of the current-driven device is electrically coupled to a first preset voltage. The driving circuit includes a switch module and a capacitor. The switch module is electrically coupled to a data signal, a second terminal of the current-driven device and a second preset voltage. The switch module is for determining whether a current is allowed to flow through the current-driven device and setting a value of the current according to the data signal. The capacitor is electrically coupled between a periodically changed resetting signal and the switch module, to couple the resetting signal into the switch module to reset a voltage at a connection node between the capacitor and the switch module. |
| US08648845B2 |
Writing data to sub-pixels using different write sequences
With respect to liquid crystal display inversion schemes, a large change in voltage on a data line can affect the voltages on adjacent data lines due to capacitive coupling between data lines. The resulting change in voltage on these adjacent data lines can give rise to visual artifacts in the data lines' corresponding sub-pixels. Various embodiments of the present disclosure serve to prevent or reduce persisting visual artifacts by offsetting their effects or by distributing their presence among different colored sub-pixels. In some embodiments, this may be accomplished by using different write sequences during the update of a row of pixels. |
| US08648843B2 |
USB image transmission system and device
An image display system including a plurality of display devices, each with a serial bus port, the plurality of display devices to be provided with image data; a serial bus link coupled with each of the plurality of display devices; and a content source coupled with the serial bus link, the content source to send the image data over the serial bus link to at least one of the plurality of display devices. A bulk end-point is established, through which image data is transferred, and a control end-point is established, through which control data is transferred. |
| US08648841B2 |
Scan-line driving device of liquid crystal display apparatus and driving method thereof
A scan-line driving device for a LCD apparatus is provided. The scan-line driving device comprises a PWM signal generating circuit, two impedances with different resistance values, a capacitor and two scan drivers. The PWM signal generating circuit outputs a PWM signal with two potentials and a predetermined duty cycle. A terminal of the capacitor is electrically coupled to a ground potential, and the other terminal of the capacitor receives the PWM signal. Each of the scan drivers comprises a core circuit and a transistor. A source/drain terminal of each transistor is electrically coupled to a PWM signal input terminal of a corresponding core circuit and the other terminal of the capacitor, the other source/drain terminal of each transistor is electrically coupled to the ground potential through a corresponding one of the impedances, and the gate terminal of each transistor receives a turn-on control signal. |
| US08648837B1 |
Active capacitive control stylus
A data transfer device comprising: a body; a tip coupled to the body, wherein the tip has a dielectric constant value suitable for interacting with a capacitive touch screen of a separate device; a control unit mounted to the body; and an electronic switch mounted to the body and operatively coupled to the control unit, wherein the switch is disposed to connect the tip to a ground source when the switch is in a closed configuration and to break the connection between the tip and the ground source when the switch is in an open configuration. |
| US08648836B2 |
Hybrid pointing device
The present invention discloses a hybrid pointing device including an optical navigation module and a pointing module. The optical navigation module is configured to replace the conventional buttons of a convention pointing device, such as an optical mouse or a trackball mouse. The optical navigation module is configured to sense gestures of at least one object operated by a user to activate commands associated with particular programs running on the host. Since the optical navigation module is only configured to sense gestures of the object but not the movement of the hybrid pointing device relative to a surface, the resolution thereof is aimed to be sufficiently high enough for sensing gestures and no need to be relatively high. |
| US08648834B2 |
Controller and ADC for low power operation of touchscreen device
Various embodiments of a low-power-consumption analog-to-digital converter (“ADC”) for a touchscreen or touch panel in a capacitive sensing system are disclosed. The ADC is configured to operate in a first mode or a second mode. The first mode is characterized by a first resolution having a first number of ADC bits and a first level of power consumption associated therewith. The second mode is characterized by a second resolution having a second number of bits and a second level of power consumption associated therewith. The ADC operates under control of the controller and is configured such that the first number of bits is greater than the second number of bits and the first power level is greater than the second power level. The controller causes the ADC to switch from operating in the first mode to operating in the second mode when low radio frequency (RF) noise conditions are detected by sense circuitry, the ADC and/or the controller. |
| US08648828B2 |
System and method for inputing user commands to a processor
Provided is a system for inputting operation system (OS) commands to a data processing device. The system includes a video camera that captures images of a viewing space. A processor detects a predetermined object in the images using an object recognition algorithm not involving background information in an image. One or more image analysis parameters of the object are extracted from the images and one or more motion detection tests are applied. Each motion detection test has an associated OS command, and when a test succeeds, the OS command associated with the test is executed. By not relying on background information in an image, the described system may be used in devices that are moved in use, such as a palm plot, personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile telephone, a digital camera, and a mobile game machine. |
| US08648826B2 |
Display device
Provided is a display device with a narrowed frame capable of preventing pooling. A display device includes a display unit (69) including a liquid-crystal display panel (59), an internal frame (FM) covered with the liquid-crystal display panel (59), and a rear case (CS1) accommodating the internal frame (FM). Ribs (RB) of the rear case (CS1) support a touch panel (79) while separating the touch panel (79) from the internal frame (FM). |
| US08648825B2 |
Off-screen gesture dismissable keyboard
Methods and devices for discontinuing the presentation of a virtual keyboard or dismissing a virtual keyboard in response to the receipt of input are provided. More particularly, input entered outside of an area of a screen comprising a touch screen display can cause the presentation of a virtual keyboard to be discontinued. The discontinuance of the virtual keyboard display can be performed simultaneously with an operation indicated by the received input. |
| US08648824B2 |
Flat panel display integrated touch screen panel
A flat panel display integrated with a touch screen panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an upper substrate and a lower substrate each divided into a display region and first and second non-display regions around the display region; a plurality of sensing patterns in the display region of the upper substrate; a plurality of sensing lines in the first non-display region of the upper substrate; an FPC bonding pad unit including a plurality of bonding pads coupled with the sensing lines, in the second non-display region of the upper substrate; a sealant between the second non-display regions of the first substrate and the second substrate; and transparent conductive patterns arranged at a same distance from the sealant in the second non-display region of the upper substrate, the transparent conductive patterns overlapping the sealant. |
| US08648820B2 |
Operation console, electronic equipment and image processing apparatus with the console, and operation method
In an image forming apparatus including software buttons and hardware buttons, a log-in image is displayed, and when input of a log-in name by a user is completed, determination is made as to whether an operation device used at that time is hardware buttons. If the operation device is hardware buttons, the image forming apparatus erases a software keyboard from a display panel, and if the operation device is not the hardware buttons, turns off a hardware button lamp. |
| US08648819B2 |
Touch screen element
A capacitive two-dimensional (2D) touch panel has three sets of interleaved electrodes. A first set of electrodes is spaced apart along the y-direction and these are galvanically connected to each other by a resistive strip connected at either end to a connection line. A second set of electrodes is also arrayed along the y-direction and these are galvanically connected to each other via a notionally non-resistive first connection. A third set of electrodes is also arrayed along the y-direction and these are galvanically connected to each other via a notionally non-resistive second connection. The second and third sets of electrodes are interleaved without galvanic cross-conduction to provide a gradient along the x-direction to resolve touch position in the x-direction. The first set of electrodes resolves touch position along the y-direction. Passive or active capacitive sensing techniques may be used to acquire the position information from the 2D touch panel. |
| US08648814B2 |
Device for controlling home automation equipment of a building
Device (60; 100) for controlling home automation equipment (1a, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 4a, 5a) of a building, comprising a display screen (101), in which the screen is assigned to the display of type icons (ITYP1, ITYP2, ITYP3, ITYP4, ITYP5), a type icon representing a set of home automation equipment of one and the same type, the screen also being assigned to the display of location icons (ILOC0, ILOC1, ILOC2, ILOC3, ILOC4, ILOC5), a location icon representing a set of home automation equipment installed in one and the same place in the building, which control device comprises a first selection or navigation means (103, 104, 105, 106) making it possible to position, in a reduced area (98) of the screen, either, a selected type icon or location icon, so as to display on the screen equipment icons (4, 5, 123, 123′, 125, 125′, 131, 131′) representative of the home automation equipment assigned to said selected type icon or location icon. |
| US08648806B2 |
Foldable mouse
A foldable mouse including a first bottom plate, a second bottom plate, a first top plate, a second top plate, and two flexible side edge covers is provided. The first bottom plate and the second bottom plate are partially stacked together, and are suitable for relative movement. The first top plate has a first end and a second end, in which the first end pivots to a side of the first bottom plate away from the second bottom plate. The second top plate has a third end and a fourth end, in which the fourth end pivots to a side of the second bottom plate away from the first bottom plate. The two flexible side edge covers are connected to two side edges of the first top plate and the second top plate and two side edges of the first bottom plate and the second bottom plate. |
| US08648805B2 |
Fingertip mouse and base
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a system that includes a tracking device to generate movement information for use in moving a user interface object on a graphical user interface. The tracking device is configured to receive at least a portion of a user's finger. The system also includes a base device configured to receive the tracking device. The base device is configured to translate movement of the base device relative to an adjacent surface for use in moving the user interface object. |
| US08648804B1 |
Joystick apparatus
An embodiment of the invention is directed to a Joystick apparatus comprising a housing for anchoring the Joystick to; a stem having an actuator connected to a first end, the stem having a second end terminating at a working tip, the stem having an intermediate portion adapted to interface with a pivot point supported by the housing; a flexible disc having a peripheral rim and a central portion, the peripheral rim being supported by the housing, the central portion being connected to the stem about the stem's pivot point; and a sensor located proximate to the working tip and being adapted to detect the motion of the working tip. A novel aspect of the invention is in the use of a flexible disc acting simultaneously as a joint and a spring, thereby simplifying construction of the Joystick. |
| US08648802B2 |
Collapsible input device
In exemplary implementations of this invention, a handheld, collapsible input device (CID) may be employed by a user to input and manipulate 3D information. The CID telescopes in length. As a user presses the CID against a display screen, the physical length of the CID shortens, and the display screen displays a virtual end of the CID that appears to project through the screen into the virtual 3D space behind the screen. The total apparent length of the CID, comprised of a physical portion and a virtual portion, remains the same (after taking into account foreshortening). Thus, the user experience is that, as the user holds the physical CID and pushes it against the display screen, the end of the CID appears to be pushed through the display screen into the virtual 3D space beyond it. The CID housing may include a push button for user input. |
| US08648796B2 |
Stroke based input system for character input
An improved handheld electronic device includes an input apparatus, preferably a trackball, an output apparatus, namely a display, and a processor apparatus. The processor apparatus is structured to execute a number of routines including a stroke-based input user interface routine. The stroke-based input user interface routine is structured to present a user interface on the display. The user interface includes an active portion, a filter portion and an output portion. |
| US08648795B2 |
Display sheet, display device, electronic device, and display sheet driving method
A method for driving a display sheet having a display layer having storage portions containing first particles and second particles includes a reset period having a first period in which the second particles are moved to one surface and also the first particles are moved to the other surface and a second period, after the first period, in which the first particles are moved to the one surface and also the second particles are moved to the other surface. |
| US08648794B2 |
Screen light computation device or method
In a screen light computation device, a first polarizing filter (93) blocks P waves reflected by a reflective surface, and screen light; the reflected light sensor (95) receives S waves; a second polarizing filter (83) allows the screen light to pass while blocking the S waves; and a screen light sensor (85), being set at Brewster's angle, where the P waves is not received, still receives some leakage P waves. A screen light extraction computation (LUT; not shown) stores a correlation between the detection value by the reflected light sensor 95 and the detection value by the screen light sensor 85. The LUT is queried, a value of only the screen light that does not include reflected light is computed, and the screen light that does not include ambient light (reflected light) reflected in a display screen of the monitor is detected without turning off a backlight of a monitor. |
| US08648792B2 |
Autostereoscopic display device
A multi-view autostereoscopic display device comprises: a backlight having a plurality of backlight areas arranged in a width direction of the display device; a spatial light modulator arranged over and in registration with the backlight, the spatial light modulator having an array of display forming elements arranged in rows and columns for modulating light received from the backlight; and a view forming layer arranged over and in registration with the spatial light modulator, the view forming layer having a plurality of view forming elements arranged in the width direction of the display device, each view forming element being configured to focus modulated light from adjacent groups of the display forming elements into a plurality of views for projection towards a user in different directions. The backlight is switchable to activate different ones of the backlight areas in different portions of a driving cycle of the display device so that, in the different portions of the driving cycle, modulated light from the active backlight areas is incident on each view forming element with respective different angles of incidence. In this way, the overall viewing angle or the effective three dimensional display resolution may be increased. |
| US08648788B2 |
Display apparatus with motion compensator for plural image display areas based on total image data
A display apparatus includes a plurality of frame rate controllers that generate a motion interpolated intermediate image. The frame rate controllers exchange image information with adjacent frame rate controllers. According to the display apparatus, each frame rate controller displays the intermediate image on a corresponding display area based on the image information provided from the adjacent frame rate controller. |
| US08648785B2 |
Display device for calculating and supplying a precharge potential
Provided is a display device including: a control portion; a display panel including one or more pixel circuits and an image signal line connected to the pixel circuits; and an image signal line driving circuit. The control portion includes a difference acquiring circuit for acquiring difference data between a value of a gray-level potential, which is to be applied to one of the pixel circuits from the image signal line, and a value of a precharge potential based on the gray-level potential. The image signal line driving circuit calculates the precharge potential based on the value of the gray-level potential and the difference data, and supplies the image signal line with the precharge potential and the gray-level potential in sequence. |
| US08648780B2 |
Motion adaptive black data insertion
A backlight display has improved display characteristics. An image is displayed on the display which includes a liquid crystal material with a light valve. The display receives an image signal and modifies the light based upon motion. |
| US08648779B2 |
LCD driver
A method includes outputting a first signal from a first DAC decoder circuit in response to receiving a first number of bits of a digital control signal, outputting a second signal from a second DAC decoder circuit in response to receiving a second number of bits of the digital control signal, and alternately outputting one of the first and second signals to an LCD column from a buffer coupled to the first and second DAC decoder circuits. The first signal has a voltage level equal to one of a first plurality of voltage levels received at one of a first plurality of inputs of the first DAC decoder circuit. The second signal has a voltage level equal to one of a second plurality of voltage levels received at one of a second plurality of inputs of the second DAC decoder circuit. |
| US08648778B2 |
Liquid crystal display and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display and driving method thereof are disclosed. The liquid crystal display according to an embodiment of the invention includes a liquid crystal panel having liquid crystal cells in a matrix array at crossings of data lines and gate lines; a timing controller for receiving a digital video data and synchronous signals, and generating a source output enable signal, a first gate start pulse, a second gate start pulse having a pulse width different from that of the first gate start pulse, a gate shift clock, a first gate output enable signal and a second gate output enable signal; a data driving circuit for providing a data voltage to the data lines in response to a first logic value of the source output enable signal, and any one black gray voltage of a charge share voltage and a precharge voltage to the data lines in response to a second logic value of the source output enable signal; and a gate driving circuit for providing a first gate pulse in synchronization with the data voltage and a second gate pulse in synchronization with the black gray voltage to the gate lines, in response to the first gate start pulse, the second gate start pulse, the gate shift clock, the first gate output enable signal and the second gate output enable signal. |
| US08648776B2 |
Display device, pixel circuit, and method for driving same
A display device has a pixel circuit (100) including: a drive element (110) provided on a path connecting a first wiring line (Vp) to a second wiring line (Vcom), having a control terminal, a first terminal, and a second terminal, and controlling a current flowing through the path; an electro-optic element (130) provided in series with the drive element (110) on the path, being connected to the first terminal of the drive element (110), and emitting light at a luminance according to the current flowing through the path; a first switching element (111) provided between the first terminal of the drive element (110) and a data line (Sj); a second switching element (112) provided between the control terminal and the second terminal of the drive element (110); a third switching element (113) provided between the second terminal of the drive element (110) and the first wiring line (Vp); and a capacitor (121) provided between the control terminal of the drive element (110) and a third wiring line (Ui). In the display device, a potential at which a voltage applied to the electro-optic element (130) is a light-emission threshold voltage or less is provided to the data line (Sj), and a potential of the third wiring line (Ui) changes in two levels. |
| US08648775B2 |
Organic light emitting display having an onscreen display area controlled differently responsive to an external light, and driving method thereof
An organic light emitting display and a driving method thereof capable of improving outdoor visibility by controlling the emission of the pixel. In one embodiment, the organic light emitting display includes an organic light emitting display panel; an emission control driver of the organic light emitting display panel; a sensor unit for outputting an electrical output signal by sensing an external light; a signal processing unit for determining an indoor mode or an outdoor mode in accordance with the output signal outputted from the sensor unit; an onscreen display control unit electrically connected to the signal processing unit and for controlling the emission control driver of the organic light emitting display panel; and an onscreen display area comprising a pixel circuit electrically connected to the emission control driver. Here, the pixel circuit of the onscreen display area is controlled by the emission control driver. |
| US08648769B2 |
Antenna base
An antenna base provided of a hollow support body having a fixed lower portion and an upper portion aligned along a longitudinal axis, the upper portion being adapted to support an antenna and being rotationally mounted on the lower portion to rotate, in use, together with the antenna itself, about the longitudinal axis; the antenna base being further provided with an electric motor, which is adapted to rotate the upper portion and is provided for this purpose with a stator integral with the lower integral and of a rotor integral with the upper portion and coaxial with the longitudinal axis. |
| US08648765B2 |
Compact size antenna operating in LTE frequency bands
A compact size antenna operating in LTE frequency bands includes a radiation element, a ground plane, a connecting piece, and a ground extension element. The radiation element at least includes a first radiation branch extending toward a first direction, wherein a connection end of the radiation element has a signal feeding point. The connecting piece is coupled to the ground plane. The ground extension element includes: a metal arm, coupled to the ground plane through the connecting piece; a first ground branch, coupled to the metal arm, and extending toward the first direction; a second ground branch coupled to the metal arm, and extending toward a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a third ground branch, coupled to the metal arm, coupled to the second ground branch, and extending toward the first direction. |
| US08648762B2 |
Loop array antenna system and electronic apparatus having the same
An antenna device includes: a substrate; micro-strip and grounding portions that are respectively disposed on opposite first and second surfaces of the substrate, the former including a signal-feed section for feeding of signals and a plurality of first connecting sections electrically connected to the signal-feed section; and a plurality of first loop antennas arranged along a peripheral edge of the grounding portion, each including a first radiator portion disposed on the first surface and electrically connected to a respective one of the first connecting sections, and a second radiator portion disposed on the second surface, electrically interconnecting the first radiator portion and the grounding portion, and cooperating with the first radiator portion to form a loop. |
| US08648758B2 |
Wideband cavity-backed slot antenna
A wideband cavity-backed slot antenna includes an enclosure having a slot, a balun located proximate the slot, a feed extending through the enclosure to the balun, and a plurality of coupled lines proximate the balun and distal to a location at which the balun is coupled to the feed. |
| US08648756B1 |
Multi-feed antenna for path optimization
An antenna comprised of multiple feed ports with independent tuning of the antenna at each feed port to optimize the impedance match between the antenna and transceivers connected to the ports. Filters designed into one or several of the feed ports to provide isolation between the multiple ports and to adjust the frequency response at each port. One or multiple active components connected to the feed ports to provide dynamic tuning of the coupled or driven elements. |
| US08648755B2 |
Antenna and method for steering antenna beam direction
An antenna comprising an IMD element and one or more parasitic and active tuning elements is disclosed. The IMD element, when used in combination with the active tuning and parasitic elements, allows antenna operation at multiple resonant frequencies. In addition, the direction of antenna radiation pattern may be arbitrarily rotated in accordance with the parasitic and active tuning elements. |
| US08648747B2 |
Method of downloading ephemeris data based on user activity
Ephemeris data is downloaded intelligently to a GPS-enabled wireless communications device based on user activity rather than at fixed predetermined intervals. Ephemeris data can be downloaded to enable both Aided GPS and Assisted GPS. The device can download ephemeris data based on the frequency of requests into an API communicating with a GPS driver, based on the detection of a new network, or a change in time zone of the network time. Intelligent, adaptive downloading of ephemeris optimizes the usage of bandwidth and the data charge to the user while ensuring that ephemeris data is cached to provide assistance for location-based services such as turn-based navigation. |
| US08648746B2 |
Network analyzer with an n-port network having at least two ports for measuring the wave parameters of a measurement object
A network analyzer includes an n-port network with two ports for measuring wave parameters of a measurement object. Each port has a feed for a radio-frequency signal from a signal source. Signal components of the radio-frequency signal fed into the respective port are reflected at the measurement object and the signal components of one or more radio-frequency signals fed into at least one other port are transmitted through the measurement object to the respective port are measured as wave parameters. The two ports are supplied with different radio-frequency signals, wherein frequencies or frequency bands are offset with respect to one another by a frequency offset. Reflected and transmitted signal components of the radio-frequency signals are measured at the same time at the two ports. |
| US08648741B2 |
Systems and methods for randomizing component mismatch in an ADC
Circuits and methods for converting a signal from analog to digital. A random number generator provides a random number to a memory. The memory is preconfigured to include codes of predetermined digital to analog (DAC) configurations that provide the maximum amount of DAC gradient suppression. At least one Flash reference generation DAC (FRGD) has an input coupled to the memory unit and an output providing a reference voltage level for its respective Flash comparator. The Flash comparators compare the analog input signal to their respective reference voltage and provide a digital output signal based on the comparison. |
| US08648736B2 |
Key input device
A key input device for data input means of a device is provided. The key input device includes a first terminal for outputting a key input signal, a second terminal spaced apart from the first terminal and having at least two divided parts, wherein all the divided parts contact the first terminal during a key input operation, at least one resistor allocated to each of the divided parts of the second terminal, connected in parallel to each other, and having respectively different resistance values, and a processor chip for controlling a corresponding key input operation according to respectively different voltage values outputted from the first terminal, by at least one corresponding resistor that is electrically and selectively connected to each of the divided parts. |
| US08648735B2 |
Safety directional indicator
Provided is a safety directional indicator to improve highway safety. Embodiments of the invention include devices for guiding a driver of a vehicle in a desired direction, typically away from highway workers, pedestrians, curbs, and opposing lanes of traffic. Specifically included is a safety directional indicator system comprising a flexible belt with a plurality of light transmitting bars disposed along the belt and having a plurality of LEDs disposed at one elongated end of each light transmitting bar and in operable communication with a control system for illuminating the LEDs in a manner to indicate a direction for traffic. Safety devices according to the invention can be stand-alone devices, devices capable of being attached to objects or structures at a highway scene, or configured to be worn on a person's body. An object of the safety devices according to embodiments of the invention is to increase driver awareness of highway situations especially during conditions of restricted visibility. |
| US08648734B2 |
System and method for collecting data using wired sensors connected to wireless nodes
A system for collecting data includes a remote sensor assembly and a central data collection device. The remote sensor assembly has a data bus, a remote wireless node, and a plurality of remote sensor modules in wired communication with the remote wireless node via the data bus. Each of the remote sensor modules converts a sensed condition into data in response to a request from the remote wireless node. The central data collection device has a master wireless node for periodically wirelessly communicating with the remote wireless node. The remote wireless node collects data from each of the plurality of remote sensor modules and periodically transmits the data to the master wireless node. The remote sensor modules are interchangeable and new remote sensor modules may be added. The remote wireless node may detect the sequence of the attached remote sensor modules to enable three-dimensional mapping of the sensed conditions. |
| US08648729B2 |
Refrigerant charge level detection
An exemplary embodiment of a system includes first and second sensors. The first sensor is operable to provide an output indicative of a sensed refrigerant liquid temperature of a liquid refrigerant line that is within or extending from an outlet of a condenser coil of an air conditioner or heat pump unit. The second sensor is operable to provide an output indicative of a sensed refrigerant liquid pressure in the liquid refrigerant line. A controller is configured to determine at least one target pressure value from the output indicative of the sensed refrigerant liquid temperature of the liquid refrigerant line. The controller is configured to determine if the level of refrigerant charge is at, above, or below an acceptable level based on a comparison of the output indicative of sensed refrigerant liquid pressure to the at least one target pressure value. |
| US08648728B2 |
Motion sensitive interlock for a vehicle having a breath analyzer
Apparatus for use with a vehicle is disclosed and comprises an interlock device. The device is adapted to, in use: at least while said vehicle is in motion, periodically generate a prompt; assess motion of said vehicle; at least when said vehicle is assessed by said device to be at rest, carry out an analysis operation wherein a breath sample is received and analyzed; and in the event that, within a predetermined period following a prompt, the device does not, while said vehicle is assessed to be at rest, carry out said analysis operation, enter an alarm state at least when the vehicle is in motion. The device can be adapted to carry out analysis operations only when the vehicle is assessed to be at rest. |
| US08648727B2 |
Wireless code game enuresis alarm for the treatment of enuresis
A system (10) and method for use by a subject with a sleep disorder, such as nocturnal enuresis. The system (10) comprises at least one sensor (11) that detects at least one attribute of the sleep disorder, for example urine, and outputs at least a first signal on or after detection of that attribute. The system (10) further comprises a control device (12) that comprises an arousal device (14), such as a loudspeaker, that activates on or after receipt of the first signal, an interactive device (15) that is actuable by the subject to deactivate or modify the operation of the arousal device (14) and an output device (16) for delivering an output to the subject. The output being delivered on or after deactivation or modification of the arousal device (14). |
| US08648720B2 |
High security burglar alarm device
Improved, magnetic high security switch apparatus is provided for use in detecting relative movement between first and second members such as a door frame and door from a close position, wherein the members are proximal, and an open position, where the members are separated. The switch apparatus includes a magnetic shiftable ball switch assembly having an elongated housing and a shiftable ball therein, which traverses an oblique path of travel between respective switch states in response to relative movement between the first and second members. Preferably, the housing is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the horizontal in order to prevent defeat of the switch apparatus through use of an external defeat magnet. |
| US08648714B2 |
Methods and apparatus for automatically causing a mobile device to download a file
Disclosed methods and apparatus automatically cause a mobile communication device to download a file using a designated remote device. A user interface enables selection of the designated remote device and of a designated code corresponding to downloading the file to the mobile communication device from the designated remote device. A processor: receives a coded electronic communication (CEC), identifies origination of the CEC, determines whether the identified originator of the CEC is the designated remote device, identifies a code included in the CEC, upon determining that the identified originator of the CEC is the designated remote device, determines whether the identified code included in the CEC is the designated code, and provides an instruction to cause the mobile communication device to download the file, upon determining that the identified code included in the CEC is the designated code. |
| US08648713B2 |
Apparatus and method for enabling an automotive module device indicator in a wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for enabling an automotive module indicator in a wireless communication system comprising receiving a capability inquiry message from a wireless network; determining an information content for a capability message in response to the capability inquiry message; and transmitting the capability message to the wireless network. In one aspect, the apparatus and method comprising transmitting a capability inquiry message to a mobile device; and receiving a capability message from the mobile device in reply to the capability inquiry message, wherein the capability message includes an automotive indicator field to indicate presence or absence of an automotive module. |
| US08648712B2 |
Electronic emergency messaging system
An electronic alert apparatus comprises a radio frequency receiver configured to receive and identify an emergency message preamble that indicates an impending transmission of an emergency message sent at a first data rate and an emergency message addressed to a shared device address sent at a second data rate. The electronic alert apparatus also includes a processor operatively connected to the radio frequency receiver and configured to decode the encoded emergency message. A memory is operatively connected to the processor and configured to store the decoded emergency message. A display is operatively connected to the controller and configured to present the decoded emergency message. A power source is configured to supply electrical power to the processor, and a housing is configured to at least partially enclose the processor, the memory, and the power source. |
| US08648705B2 |
Methods and systems for automated emergency lighting
A control circuit for activating at least one emergency light when a vehicle's brakes are applied is described. The control circuit includes a pressure switch configured to selectively couple a power source and an electrically-operated actuator to facilitate selectively energizing the electrically-operated actuator. The electrically-operated actuator includes at least one contact set configured to couple the power source to the at least one emergency light when the electrically-operated actuator is not energized. The control circuit also includes a manual reset circuit coupled to the pressure switch and to the electrically-operated actuator. The manual reset circuit configured to facilitate energizing the electrically-operated actuator upon receipt of an operator input. |
| US08648701B2 |
Saddle riding vehicle
A saddle riding vehicle includes a storage box and an anti-theft system. The storage box is openable in a vehicle horizontal direction. The anti-theft system is configured to measure position information on the vehicle and to send the position information via radio, the anti-theft system being attached to an undersurface of a ceiling of the storage box. Preferably, the anti-theft system is rotatably attached to the undersurface of the ceiling of the storage box by a hinge and the anti-theft system is attached to the tray member. |
| US08648700B2 |
Alerts issued upon component detection failure
A system and method for alerting interested parties of component failure are provided. The system made up of a diagnostic tool for identifying a failed component, a reporting device for creating alerts, a routing device to ensure interested parties receive the proper alerts, and a memory to store information for associating parties with the alerts. Information is gathered to create an alert used to notify interested parties of instances of component failures. The alerts are routed to parties known to have an interest in the failure of the component. The system and method may provide information that allows for better planning and design of parts, greater availability to ensure a sufficient inventory of parts, more accurate diagnosis of issues, and more effective preventative maintenance. |
| US08648699B2 |
Item tracking system and arrangement
An item tracking system including at least one signal emitting element directly or indirectly attached to a portion of at least one item, wherein at least a portion of the at least one signal emitting element extends from the at least one item. The system further includes a container, including: (i) a support surface configured to at least partially support the at least one item and having at least one opening extending therethrough, which is configured to at least partially receive at least a portion of the signal emitting element therethrough; and (ii) at least one signal receiving member configured for communication with the portion of the at least one signal emitting member extending through the at least one opening. An item tracking container and method of tracking are also disclosed. |
| US08648695B2 |
Apparatus and method for operating devices based upon vehicle detection for use with a movable barrier
A movable barrier operator controls access to a secured area which houses vehicles. The movable barrier operator is operable to move a movable barrier from an open to a closed position. A sensor controls the operation of a service-providing device through the controller of a movable barrier operator or by direct communication to a controller for the service-providing device. The sensing device senses whether a vehicle is present in the secured area. The sensor is operatively connected to the moveable barrier operator and is used to control the operation of at least one service-providing device without necessarily effecting movement of a barrier by the movable barrier operator. Operation of the service-providing device is effected upon sensing whether a vehicle is present in the secured area to effect an operation of the service-providing device. |
| US08648693B2 |
Key slot device for in-vehicle auxiliary key
A key slot capable of accommodating an auxiliary key, which is a vehicle key other than a master key. A key lock mechanism locks or unlocks movement of the auxiliary key in the key slot, thereby allowing the auxiliary key to be taken out of the key slot in accordance with a lending condition of the auxiliary key. An invalid key return prevention unit permits the auxiliary key to be returned to the key slot in accordance with a return condition of the auxiliary key. If the return condition is met, the invalid key return prevention unit causes the key lock mechanism to lock the auxiliary key in the key slot. If the return condition is not met, the invalid key return prevention unit does not allow the auxiliary key to be returned to the key slot. |
| US08648688B2 |
Protection element
A protection element is provided which is capable of stably retaining a flux on a soluble conductor at a predetermined position and is capable of checking a retention state of the flux, enabling a speedy blowout of the soluble conductor in the event of an abnormality. This protection element includes: a soluble conductor 13 which is disposed on an insulation baseboard 11 and is connected to an electric power supply path of a device targeted to be protected, to cause a blowout by means of a predetermined abnormal electric power; a flux 19 which is coated onto a surface of the soluble conductor 13; and an insulation cover 14 which is mounted on the baseboard 11 with the soluble conductor 13 being covered therewith. The insulation cover 14 is provided with an opening porting 20 made of a through hole which is opposite to the soluble conductor 13. The flux 19 comes into contact with a peripheral edge part of the opening portion 20, retaining the flux 19 at a predetermined position on the soluble conductor 13. |
| US08648684B2 |
Voltage transforming apparatus
A voltage transforming apparatus includes a primary winding receiving an AC voltage, a plurality of secondary windings that are different in number of turns, and a voltage conversion circuit for converting an AC voltage induced in each of the plurality of secondary windings. Each of the plurality of secondary windings includes the first terminal and the second terminal each having a potential that is not fixed. The first terminal and the second terminal are separately provided in each of the secondary windings. The voltage transforming apparatus further includes a switching circuit for selectively connecting the first terminal and the second terminal of each of the plurality of secondary windings to the voltage conversion circuit. |
| US08648683B2 |
Mold for making products with co-molded inserts
A molding system with inserts placed on the die and/or the punch of the mold, which allows one to obtain molded products with co-molded ferromagnetic inserts on the surfaces thereof. |
| US08648682B2 |
Magnet coil arrangement and collection of magnet coil arrangements
A magnet coil arrangement for an electromagnetically operated valve includes a coil that is electrically connectable to a current source by means of a base. The base is constructed in substantially two parts by a coil part and a connection part. A current source can be connected to contacts of the connection part, while the coil part has contacts which are electrically connected to the coil. The connection part and the coil part are connected by means of a connecting apparatus in order to be electrically and mechanically connected. |
| US08648678B2 |
Compact superconducting magnet device
Disclosed is a compact superconducting magnet device for generating an intense and homogeneous magnetic field component Bz along an axis Oz in a zone of interest ZI successively includes, starting from the axis Oz, at least three coaxial superconducting helical coils formed around circular cylinder sections of axis Oz delimited by end circles. The lateral ends of the helical coils are arranged, to within the thickness of the coils, in the vicinity of one same sphere of radius c whose centre O is placed on the axis Oz at the centre of the zone of interest ZI and which encompasses the magnetic device assembly. The azimuthal current densities j1, j2, j3 of the helical coils are alternately of opposite sign. The lengths of the helical coils are of decreasing length. |
| US08648668B2 |
Electrical impedance precision control of signal transmission line for circuit board
Disclosed is a structure for precision control of electrical impedance of signal transmission circuit board. A substrate forms thereon a plurality of first signal transmission lines, and a first covering insulation layer is formed on a first surface of the substrate to cover a surface of each first signal transmission lines and each spacing section formed between adjacent first signal transmission lines. Each first signal transmission lines can transmit a differential mode signal or a common mode signal. At least one first flattening insulation layer is formed between a surface of the first covering insulation layer and a first conductive shielding layer so that the first flattening insulation layer fills up the height difference between the surface of each first signal transmission line and the spacing section associated with each first signal transmission line to thereby ensure a consistent distance between the signal transmission lines and the conductive shielding layer for realizing precision control of electrical impedance of the signal transmission circuit board. |
| US08648667B2 |
Thin film balun
A thin film balun that can be made smaller and thinner while maintaining required balun characteristics is provided. A thin film balun 1 includes: an unbalanced transmission line UL including a first coil portion C1 and a second coil portion C2; a balanced transmission line BL including a third coil portion C3 and a fourth coil portion C4 that are positioned facing and magnetically coupled to the first coil portion C1 and the second coil portion C2 respectively; an unbalanced terminal UT connected to the first coil portion C1; a ground terminal G connected to the second coil portion C2 via a C component D; and an electrode D2 connected to the ground terminal G and facing a part of the second coil portion C2. The C component D is formed by the electrode D2 and the part D1 of the second coil portion C2. |
| US08648665B2 |
Impedance-matching circuits for multi-output power supplies driving CO2 gas-discharge lasers
Electrical apparatus for connecting a radio frequency power-supply having two outputs to a load includes two radio frequency transmission-lines, each one connected to a corresponding power-supply output. A transformer arrangement connects the two transmission-lines to the load. Each transmission-line includes a series-connected pair of twelfth-wave transmission-line sections. The series-connection between the twelfth wave transmission-line sections in one transmission line is connected to the series-connection between the twelfth-wave transmission-line sections in the other by a device having an adjustable impedance. |
| US08648662B2 |
Oscillator circuit with a fast transient
An oscillator circuit for producing a frequency signal has a resonator element, an amplifier circuit and a coupling apparatus. The coupling apparatus connects the amplifier circuit to the resonator element for the duration of a switching-on process in the oscillator circuit. |
| US08648661B1 |
Current limiting circuit
A current limiting circuit includes a power amplifier receiving an input signal through an attenuator. The power amplifier comprises one or more amplification stages and an output stage. The output stage is connected to an antenna. A mirror circuit is connected in parallel to the output stage. The magnitude of a first current flowing through the mirror circuit is proportional to the magnitude of a second current flowing through the output stage. Further, the current limiting circuit includes a comparator that compares the magnitude of the first current with a reference value to generate a control signal. The attenuator adjusts the power of the input signal based on the control signal thereby limiting the magnitude of the second current. |
| US08648660B2 |
Amplifier with non-linear current mirror
An amplifier with a non-linear current mirror comprises an amplification stage having an input terminal for an input signal as well as an output stage coupled to the amplification stage by a current mirror stage. The current mirror stage comprises at least one mirror transistor coupled to the amplification stage and at least one output transistor coupled to the output stage. The amplifier comprises two variable resistive elements, each of them connected in series to one of the mirror transistor and the output transistor. A tuning stage is adapted to tune the variable resistive elements in response to the input signal. |
| US08648657B1 |
Mobile device including a power amplifier with selectable voltage supply
The present application discloses various implementations of a mobile device including a power amplifier (PA) having a driving stage coupled to an output stage. The driving stage is configured to be selectably powered by one of a first voltage supply and a second voltage supply. The output stage is configured to be powered by the second voltage supply. The mobile device further includes a voltage supply selection switch configured to selectably power the driving stage by the second voltage supply when an output power of the PA is less than or equal to a threshold power. |
| US08648655B2 |
Modulator and an amplifier using the same
A linear amplification with nonlinear components (LINC) modulator is provided. The LINC modulator includes: a separator that generates a plurality of constant envelope signals from a source signal; a processor that receives an input signal and detects and removes a phase jump in phase trajectory of the input signal to generate a first signal having a continuous phase trajectory and a second signal having a discontinuous phase trajectory; and a quadrature modulator that mixes the first signal with the second signal to reconstruct the input signal. |
| US08648654B1 |
Integrated circuit and method for generating a layout of such an integrated circuit
An integrated circuit has a first and second voltage supply rails with first and second voltage levels and a gated voltage supply rail. Each of the circuit elements is connected either between the first and second voltage supply rails or between the gated rail and the second voltage rail. A source circuit structure comprising one or more circuit elements provides an input signal maintained at a static value during a power gated mode of operation. At least one recipient circuit structure requires receipt of the input signal at the static value during the power gated mode of operation. A distribution network comprises a first subset of circuit elements which pull their output to the first voltage level then the input signal has the static value, and a second subset of circuit elements which pull their output to the second voltage level when the input signal has the static value. |
| US08648653B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing interference
A method and apparatus is provided for reducing interference in circuits. A management strategy is provided to reduce reference spurs and interference in circuits. The management strategy uses a combination of one or more techniques which reduce the digital current, minimize mutual inductance, utilize field cancellation, prevent leakage current, and/or manage impedance. These techniques may be used alone, or preferably, used on combination with one another. |
| US08648643B2 |
Semiconductor power modules and devices
An electronic component is described which includes a first transistor encased in a first package, the first transistor being mounted over a first conductive portion of the first package, and a second transistor encased in a second package, the second transistor being mounted over a second conductive portion of the second package. The component further includes a substrate comprising an insulating layer between a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The first package is on one side of the substrate with the first conductive portion being electrically connected to the first metal layer, and the second package is on another side of the substrate with the second conductive portion being electrically connected to the second metal layer. The first package is opposite the second package, with at least 50% of a first area of the first conductive portion being opposite a second area of the second conductive portion. |
| US08648642B2 |
Low voltage analog switch
A switch for an analog signal may include a main MOS transistor whose source forms an input terminal of the switch and whose drain forms an output terminal of the switch, a capacitor having a first terminal permanently connected to the source of the main transistor, a circuit for charging the capacitor, and a first auxiliary transistor configured to connect the second terminal of the capacitor to the gate of the main transistor in response to a control signal. The charge circuit may include a resistor permanently connecting the second terminal of the capacitor to a power supply line. The capacitor and the resistor may form a high-pass filter having a cutoff frequency lower than the frequency of the analog signal. |
| US08648640B1 |
Method and apparatus for clock transmission
Apparatus and methods are provided for an extraction circuit. In one configuration, an apparatus includes: an edge extraction circuit for receiving a first clock signal and outputting a second clock signal, wherein a duty cycle of the second clock is substantially smaller than a duty cycle of the first clock; a transistor for receiving the second clock signal and outputting a current signal; a transmission line for receiving the current signal on a first end and transmitting the current signal to a second end; a termination circuit for receiving the current signal at the second end and converting the current signal into a voltage signal; and an edge detection circuit for outputting a third clock by detecting an edge of the voltage signal. In one embodiment, the edge detection circuit comprises an inverter. In another embodiment, the edge detection circuit comprises a comparator. |
| US08648639B2 |
Duty adjustment circuits and signal generation devices using the same
A duty adjustment circuit is provided. The duty adjustment circuit is used to adjust a duty cycle of a first driving signal. The duty adjustment circuit includes a filter, a first comparator, and a first duty adjustor. The filter receives a comparison result signal and filters the comparison result signal to generate a duty information signal. The duty information signal indicates a duty cycle of the comparison result signal. The first comparator receives the duty information signal and determines whether a direct-current (DC) level of the duty information signal falls into a predefined voltage range to generate a first adjustment signal. The first duty adjustor receives the first adjustment signal and the first driving signal and adjusts the duty cycle of the first driving signal according to the first adjustment signal. |
| US08648638B2 |
Electronic chips with slew-rate control at output signals
Electronic chips with slew-rate control at output signals are disclosed. A disclosed electronic chip includes a slew-rate control circuit and slew-rate control charging and discharging transistors wherein the transistors are coupled at an output pin of the electronic chip. According to an input signal for an output stage of the electronic chip and a signal at the output pin, the slew-rate control circuit generates the slew-rate control charging and discharging signals to separately control the slew-rate control charging and discharging transistors to charge/discharge a load capacitance at the output pin. |
| US08648635B2 |
Clock signal generators having a reduced power feedback clock path and methods for generating clocks
Memories, clock generators and methods for providing an output clock signal are disclosed. One such method includes delaying a buffered clock signal by an adjustable delay to provide an output clock signal, providing a feedback clock signal from the output clock signal, and adjusting a duty cycle of the buffered clock signal based at least in part on the feedback clock signal. An example clock generator includes a forward clock path configured to provide a delayed output clock signal from a clock driver circuit, and further includes a feedback clock path configured to provide a feedback clock signal based at least in part on the delayed output clock signal, for example, frequency dividing the delayed output clock signal. The feedback clock path further configured to control adjustment a duty cycle of the buffered input clock signal based at least in part on the feedback clock signal. |
| US08648632B2 |
Digital PLL circuit, semiconductor integrated circuit, and display apparatus
In a digital PLL circuit, a phase comparison circuit counts the numbers of transitions of a reference clock and an oscillation clock, sets a time taken until the number of transitions of the reference clock reaches a reference count value as a phase comparison time period, and detects, as a phase error value, a difference between a target count value, obtained based on a magnification value of a desired oscillating frequency with respect to the frequency of the reference clock and the reference count value, and the number of transitions of the oscillation clock in the phase comparison time period. A smoothing circuit smoothes the phase error value. A digitally-controlled oscillation circuit controls the frequency of the oscillation clock in accordance with the phase error value smoothed by the smoothing circuit. |
| US08648628B2 |
Differential output buffer
According to one embodiment, a main driver is configured to shift the level of a differential signal. A bypass circuit is configured to bypass current flowing through the main driver in such a manner as to contain the change amount of current running through the main driver flowing from a high power supply potential to a low power supply potential within a fixed range upon transition between an operating state and a standby state of the main driver. |
| US08648627B1 |
Programmable ultrasound transmit beamformer integrated circuit and method
An electrical waveform generating circuit has a programmable current source-driver. A digital switched current source is coupled to the programmable current source-driver and controlled by waveforms stored in the programmable current source-driver. A plurality of MOSFETs is coupled to the programmable current source driver. A first coupled inductor is connected to the plurality of high voltage MOSFETs. A transducer is coupled to the first coupled inductor. |
| US08648626B2 |
Clock generators, clock generating methods, and mobile communication device using the clock generator
A clock generator and generating method, and a mobile communication device using the clock generator. A clock generator comprises a first accumulator, an oscillating signal generating circuit and a frequency adjustment circuit. The oscillating signal generating circuit generates a first oscillating signal and adjusts a frequency of the first oscillating signal according to a first overflow output signal of the first accumulator. The frequency adjustment circuit generates a frequency control value according to the first oscillating signal and a reference oscillating signal. The first accumulator accumulates the frequency control value according to the first oscillating signal to generate the first overflow output signal. |
| US08648620B2 |
Programmable logic controller employing single-chip
A PLC includes a single-chip, a relay output module, an I/O module, a pulse output module, a relay, and a servo motor. The single chip includes a single-chip timer, a hardware watchdog, a 11.0592M crystal, and an A/D converter module. A system program is burned into an EEPROM of the single-chip. The relay connected to the relay output module. The servo motor is connected to the pulse output module. The system program includes a programming module and a control module. The programming module includes a main function and a function subroutine library, and the main function calls the subroutines of the function subroutine library. The control module scans the input signals from the I/O module during predetermined period, and then generates output signals according to the control commands generated by the programming module, to control output of the relay output module and the pulse output module. |
| US08648606B2 |
Ground monitor
A ground monitor is disclosed. The ground monitor may be configured to conduct a ground continuity test based on a determined ground resistance. The ground monitor may be operable to determine the ground resistance as a function of a voltage differential detected during application of a test current. |
| US08648605B2 |
Sensor, sensor system, portable sensor system, method of analyzing metal ions, mounting substrate, method of analyzing plating preventing chemical species, method of analyzing produced compound, and method of analyzing monovalent copper chemical species
This invention provides a sensor having such a structure that the area in which a sensor electrode comes into contact with a liquid, a mist or a gas containing an analyte has been previously specified. The sensor comprises at least an electroconductive first electrode, an electroconductive second electrode, electroconductive first and second wirings connected to the first and second electrodes, and an insulating part for insulating the first and second wirings from each other and from a liquid, a mist or a gas containing the analyte. The insulating part is formed of an organic material. In the first and second electrodes, at least the surface, which comes into contact with a liquid, a mist or a gas containing the analyte, is formed of a material which is insoluble in a liquid or a mist containing the analyte, or is not attacked by a gas containing the analyte. |
| US08648604B2 |
Ionization gauge with operational parameters and geometry designed for high pressure operation
An ionization gauge to measure pressure and to reduce sputtering yields includes at least one electron source that generates electrons. The ionization gauge also includes a collector electrode that collects ions formed by the collisions between the electrons and gas molecules. The ionization gauge also includes an anode. An anode bias voltage relative to a bias voltage of a collector electrode is configured to switch at a predetermined pressure to decrease a yield of sputtering collisions. |
| US08648599B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method
According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit and data processing condition setting unit. The imaging unit is configured to acquire magnetic resonance data corresponding to a sampling region asymmetric in a wave number direction in k-space from an object to generate image data based on the magnetic resonance data by data processing including phase correction and filter processing for obtaining a complex conjugate. The data processing condition setting unit is configured to set a condition for the data processing according to an imaging condition influencing a phase distribution used for the phase correction or the phase distribution. |
| US08648598B2 |
Controlling multi-channel transmitter effects on specific absorption rate
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with controlling the specific absorption rate (SAR) in a patient associated with a conductor are described. The conductor may be, for example, a wire associated with a pacemaker, a wire associated with a neurostimulator, an orthopaedic device, and so on. One example method includes calibrating a multi-channel transmitter associated with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus imaging the patient. The example method also includes controlling the MRI apparatus to transmit radio frequency (RF) energy to image the patient in a manner where the RF energy will only influence the SAR near the conductor in the patient less than a desired threshold amount. |
| US08648597B2 |
Antenna system and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
An RF coil is provided with a hollow-shaped outer conductive element and strip-shaped conductive elements disposed along the outer conductive element in the axial direction. The strip-shaped conductive elements are disposed with uneven intervals to secure an internal space at a position where the strip-shaped conductive elements are not disposed. In order to obtain uniform sensitivity at the center section of the RF coil, the strip-shaped conductive elements and the outer conductive element are electrically connected via capacitors of which capacitances are adjusted so that a magnetic field component perpendicular to the center axis should be generated at a desired resonance frequency, and the strip-shaped conductive elements are axisymmetrically disposed with respect to the center axis of the outer conductive element. As a result, a comfortable examination space in a tunnel type MRI apparatus is achieved without increasing the manufacturing cost of the MRI apparatus. |
| US08648594B2 |
Method and device for uniform radial data acquisition in three-dimensional K-space in an MR measurement for a magnetic resonance system
For radial data acquisition in three-dimensional k-space in an MR measurement for a magnetic resonance system, data in k-space are acquired along straight-line spokes. Each of the spokes is thereby defined by a point on a sphere and the center point of this sphere, wherein the center point corresponding to the center of k-space. The points are arranged on the sphere such that a distribution of the points obeys the spiral phyllotaxis, in particular the Fibonacci phyllotaxis. |
| US08648590B2 |
Induction detecting type rotary encoder
An induction detecting type rotary encoder includes: a stator; a rotor configured to be rotated with respect to a rotary shaft; a first transmitting coil; a second transmitting coil; a first receiving coil; a second receiving coil; a first magnetic flux coupling body; and a second magnetic flux coupling body. The first transmitting coil is disposed between the first and second receiving coils. A distance between the second transmitting coil and the rotary shaft is larger than that of the second receiving coil and the rotary shaft. The first magnetic flux coupling body forms a first track for causing a periodic change for each rotation. The second magnetic flux coupling body forms a second track for causing a periodic change for each rotation. The second magnetic flux coupling body has a pattern of which an inner peripheral side is substantially continuous in a circumferential direction. |
| US08648587B2 |
Arrangement of a stepping switch on a control transformer
The invention relates to the arrangement of a stepping switch on a control transformer, wherein either only the mechanical contact system (8) of the stepping switch or also its load changeover switch (7) is or are arranged within the tank (1) of the transformer, under the transformer cover (4) and above the iron yoke (3). |
| US08648582B2 |
Programmable low dropout linear regulator
The present invention provides a programmable low dropout linear regulator using a reference voltage to convert an input voltage into a regulated voltage according to a control signal. The programmable low dropout linear regulator includes an operational amplifier having a negative input coupled to receive the reference voltage, a first transistor having a gate coupled to an output terminal of the operational amplifier and a first source/drain coupled to an output terminal of the regulated voltage, a first impedance coupled between a positive input of the operational amplifier and the output terminal of the regulated voltage, and a second impedance coupled between the positive input of the operational amplifier and a ground. The second impedance includes a second transistor having a gate coupled to receive the control signal. |
| US08648580B2 |
Regulator with high PSRR
A regulator for providing a low dropout voltage at an output node of the regulator is provided. An amplifier has a non-inverting input terminal for receiving an input voltage, an inverting input terminal and an output terminal. A first resistor is coupled between a ground and the inverting input terminal of the amplifier. A second resistor is coupled to the inverting input terminal of the amplifier. A first transistor is coupled between a voltage source and the second resistor. A current source coupled between the voltage source and a gate of the first transistor provides a bias current. A second transistor coupled between the first transistor and a current mirror has a gate coupled to the output terminal of the amplifier. The first and second transistors are different type MOS transistors. The replica unit generates the low dropout voltage according to a voltage of the output terminal of the amplifier. |
| US08648576B2 |
Reactive power compensator
A first SVC is connected to a first bus. A first SVC control unit controls the first SVC. A first fluctuation-component-voltage generating unit includes a voltage reference circuit that outputs a voltage reference value. A second SVC is connected to a second bus. A second SVC control unit controls the second SVC. A second fluctuation-component-voltage generating unit includes a first-order-lag control block with limiter that generates a comparative voltage that follows a bus voltage of the second bus with a predetermined time lag characteristic and is limited within a predetermined range. An impedance value XS1 of slope reactance of the first SVC is set smaller than impedance value XS2 of slope reactance of the second SVC. |
| US08648571B2 |
Electric-powered vehicle, method for estimating state of charge, and computer-readable storage medium having program stored therein for causing computer to execute method for estimating state of charge
When charging each electric power storage device from a power supply external to a vehicle is requested, then before each electric power storage device is charged the electric power storage devices charge/discharge therebetween. A battery ECU calculates a voltage-current characteristic of each electric power storage device, as based on each electric power storage device's voltage and current collected when the electric power storage devices charge/discharge therebetween. Each electric power storage device's OCV is calculated as based on the calculated voltage-current characteristic, and each electric power storage device's SOC is estimated from the calculated OCV. |
| US08648570B2 |
Method for balancing of high voltage battery pack
The present invention relates to a cell balancing method for a high-voltage battery pack, and the method comprises steps of a) measuring an electromotive force of each cell composing the battery pack; b) selecting the cell to be balanced based on the electromotive force of the each cell; c) computing a total amount of charges used for balancing of the cell to be balanced; d) obtaining an accumulative amount of charges by accumulating an amount of current consumed for the balancing while performing the balancing of the cell to be balanced; and e) completing the balancing of the cell to be balanced when the accumulative amount of charges equals the total amount of charges. |
| US08648563B2 |
Charger for charging at least one rechargeable energy storage unit
The invention relates to a charging device for charging at least one rechargeable energy storage unit, having a defined inner resistance and having a compensation circuit for the compensation of a voltage drop during the charging operation caused by the inner resistance. The compensation circuit has a current detection for detecting a charge current of the rechargeable energy storage unit and a voltage regulator for adjusting the charge voltage to the detected charge current. The charging device is characterized in that the compensation circuit has a voltage distributor between the current detector and the voltage regulator, by the dimensioning of which the compensation of the inner resistance is carried out. |
| US08648555B2 |
Method and system for controlling an electric motor at or near stall conditions
A data processor determines whether a composite torque command is larger than a preset torque threshold for a time interval. The composite torque command is convertible into a direct-axis current command and a quadrature-axis current command. The data processor determines whether a rotor speed of the motor is less than a preset speed threshold for the time interval. The data processor, the current adjustment module, or the current shaping module adjusts the direct-axis current command and the quadrature-axis current command to obtain a revised direct-axis current command and revised quadrature-axis current command for the time interval if the composite torque command is larger than the preset torque threshold and if the rotor speed is less than the preset speed threshold, where the revised current commands vary by the detected rotational position of the rotor to achieve a generally constant shaft torque output. |
| US08648553B2 |
Control of heavy machines
The present invention relates to a system for controlling rotational speed on a rotating process machine (P), which for example is a turbine or a propeller, where the rotating process machine (P) is connected to at least one motor (M1) and arranged to rotate with a given rotational speed given by the motor (M1), the motor (M1) is connected to a control system (C) and the rotational speed of the motor (M1) is arranged to be controlled by a control system (C). The rotating process machine (P) comprises a load control (PC) arranged to be adaptable, the control system (C) is connected to the rotating process machine (P). With the invention, one achieves soft transitions between several selectable rotational speeds and lower energy consumption by step by step adjusting the size and the rotational speed of the motor (M1) to varying energy requirement. |
| US08648548B2 |
Current generator
A current generating circuit for providing a plurality of load current is provided. The current generating circuit includes: a plurality of operational amplifier, coupled to a reference voltage source, wherein each positive input end of the a plurality of operational amplifier receives the reference voltage source; a plurality of semiconductor switch, used for controlling the output of a plurality of load current, wherein each semiconductor switch is respectively coupled to a corresponding operational amplifier and a load, and the semiconductor switch operates according to signals outputted from the output end of the corresponding operational amplifier to output the corresponding load current; and a control unit, coupled to a plurality of operational amplifier, for outputting a control signal to control the operation of a plurality of operational amplifier. |
| US08648546B2 |
High efficiency lighting device including one or more saturated light emitters, and method of lighting
A solid state lighting device comprising at least one first light emitter that emits non-saturated non-white light of a first color point, at least one second light emitter that emits saturated non-white light, and a controller configured to control a ratio of light emitted by the first emitter(s) and by the second light emitter(s) to provide non-white light of a second color point. Also, a solid state lighting device comprising at least one first light emitter that emits light within a first area or a second area on a Chromaticity Diagram, and at least one second light emitter, wherein output light is non-white and has a second color point. Also, methods of providing non-white light. |
| US08648545B2 |
Reference voltage generating device, control device including the reference voltage generating device, and LED light emitting device using the control device
A control device and an LED light emitting device using the same are provided and technology of providing a high contrast ratio to the LED light emitting device and allowing the LED light emitting device to perform a stable operation is disclosed. The LED light emitting device includes a DC/DC converter reference voltage generator that generates a DC/DC converter reference voltage so that a minimum level of a channel voltage having a largest LED voltage drop agrees with a predetermined minimum reference voltage by detecting a plurality of channel voltages corresponding to LED voltage drops of each of a plurality of LED channels LED and an output voltage controller that controls an output voltage of the DC/DC converter using a distribution voltage corresponding to an output voltage and the DC/DC converter reference voltage. |
| US08648541B2 |
Systems and apparatuses including alterable characteristics and methods of altering and coordinating such characteristics
Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided that include alterable characteristics and such alterable characteristics may be coordinated. Such systems, apparatuses, and methods may include wearable apparatuses and such alterable characteristics may relate to illumination conditions. In one example, a wearable apparatus includes an illumination device that may be manually manipulated between two different illumination conditions. In another example, two wearable apparatuses may each include an illumination device and operation of the two illumination devices may be coordinated. In a further example, operation of an apparatus may be controlled by a third party or venue. Still another exemplary system may include a capturing device for capturing a characteristic of an object and controlling an output device of an apparatus to operate with the same characteristic as the captured characteristic. |
| US08648540B1 |
Decoration lamp for producing matched sound and illumination effects
A decoration lamp with a speaker for correspondingly illuminating and speaking has a decoration body, multiple fixtures, multiple illumination units, a translucent cover, a speaker and a control device. The fixtures are mounted on the decoration body. The illumination units are mounted in the fixtures. The translucent cover is mounted on the decoration body to cover the illumination units. The control device sequentially activates the illumination units for changing the patterns and activates the speaker making voices for the patterns. The patterns and the voices change synchronously. |
| US08648537B2 |
Methods and apparatus for driving LED-based lighting units
A plurality of switching units interleaves with a plurality of LED-based lighting units to configure the interconnection of the LED-based lighting units for providing multiple lighting modes. Each switching unit disposed between a leading lighting unit and a trailing lighting unit is separately controlled by a controller. The switching unit can be configured to connect the two LED-based lighting units in parallel or in series, or to bypass the leading LED-based lighting unit. All the LED-based lighting units are connected in series when an input voltage supply is at a maximum voltage level, and connected in parallel when the input voltage supply is at a minimum voltage level. As the input voltage level decreases, the number of LED-based lighting units connected in parallel increases, and vice versa. |
| US08648535B2 |
Vehicle lamp control apparatus
In a vehicle lamp control apparatus, a control unit controls sub lamps in a first condition based on a main information signal including a turn signal or a steering angle signal, and in a second condition based on a sub information signal. A noticeability of the second condition is lower than a noticeability of the first condition. |
| US08648533B2 |
Overmoded cavity bounded by first and second grids for providing electron beam/RF signal interaction that is transversely distributed across the cavity
An overmoded distributed interaction network is provided that generates high peak and average RF power amplification at high frequencies. A series of overmoded cavities are bounded by parallel or concentric grids that may be separated by metallic spacers adapted to function as a photonic bandgap circuit to suppress competing electromagnetic modes. The selected electromagnetic modes have wavelengths much shorter than the lateral dimension of the grids, allowing the beam-wave interaction to be distributed transversely for improved interaction efficiency. The grids may optionally be slotted and arranged to provide a serpentine traveling wave tube configuration. |
| US08648532B2 |
Compact HID lamp with multiple protective envelopes
A High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamp includes a discharge chamber disposed within an anti-oxidation envelope and protected by a shroud. The shroud encloses the anti-oxidation envelope and thereby the discharge chamber to prevent the emission of fragments in the event that the discharge chamber fails. The shroud is positioned around the anti-oxidation envelope by a compressed spring at one end of the envelope tensioned against a collar attaching the other end of the envelope to a base of the lamp. |
| US08648531B2 |
High pressure discharge lamp and method of manufacturing high pressure discharge lamp
A high pressure discharge lamp has a sealing portion that is made of glass and a sealing metal piece. In a method of manufacturing the high pressure discharge lamp, the sealing metal piece is irradiated with laser beam whose pulse width is 1×10−9 seconds or less, so as to carry out a surface treatment of the sealing metal piece. The sealing metal piece may have a groove that is 120 to 600 nm in depth and 450 to 1,200 nm in width. |
| US08648523B2 |
Light emitting device including light emitting element and phosphor
The light emitting device comprises a light emitting element, a red phosphor formed from a nitride phosphor and a green phosphor formed from a halosilicate, wherein the emission spectrum has a first peak at a wavelength between 440 nm and 470 nm, a second peak at a wavelength between 510 nm and 550 nm and a third peak at a wavelength between 630 nm and 670 nm, and the minimum relative light emission intensity between the second peak wavelength and the third peak wavelength is 80% or less of whichever the lower of the relative light emission intensity of the second peak wavelength and the relative light emission intensity of the third peak wavelength. |
| US08648521B2 |
Fluorescent display device having an outer light source and light shielding film
A fluorescent display device is disclosed. The fluorescent display device includes an anode plate, aluminum anode wirings arranged on the anode plate, a first light shielding aluminum film arranged on the anode plate, an insulation layer arranged on both the anode wiring and the first light shielding film, a second light shielding graphite film arranged on the insulation layer, an anode electrode arranged on the insulation layer, and an outer light source display formed by removing a portion of the first light shielding film. The outer light source display is illuminated by a LED to display a predetermined pattern. The second light shielding film is formed along a wiring array arranged on the first light shielding film and the wiring so that a gap between the first light shielding film and the wirings is covered with the second light shielding film. |
| US08648518B2 |
Compressor with snug perforated stator end-cover
A power driven component inside a compressor is disposed with a stator and rotors. The stator has an iron core in a circular ring and stator coils in a tightly wound manner. A vertical interval is formed between adjacent stator coils. A cover body is formed on the stator and a shield member that is formed with an upper portion along each stator coil and bending curve portions at two sides of the upper portion. Each bending curve portion is extended toward the interval from the upper portion. A sealed cover portion is connected between the bending curve portions of the upper portion and correspondingly seals each interval to reduce noise of the compressor and oil circulation rate. |
| US08648517B2 |
Multilayer piezoelectric element and injector using the same
A multilayer piezoelectric element includes a plurality of piezoelectric layers and a plurality of metal layers stacked alternately. The plurality of metal layers include a plurality of low-filled metal layers having a lower filling rate of metal composing the metal layers than oppositely disposed metal layers adjacent to each other in a stacking direction. The plurality of metal layers may include a plurality of thin metal layers having a smaller thickness than oppositely disposed metal layers adjacent to each other in a stacking direction. Where the plurality of metal layers are composed mainly of an alloy, the plurality of metal layers may include a plurality of high-ratio metal layers having a higher ratio of a component constituting the alloy than oppositely disposed metal layers adjacent to each other in a stacking direction. |
| US08648512B2 |
Generator with improved generation efficiency and rotational force
An improved generator for using waterpower, wave-power or wind-power, comprising; a set of magnet plates and coil plates for mounting on a rotating shaft in parallel, the magnets installed on the magnet plates and the generating coils installed on the coil plates with constant-intervals in radial direction, a plurality of blades obliquely installed on circumference of the magnet plates and coil plates with mutually opposite direction, an inner annular cylinder and outer annular cylinder mounted on the coil plates to form annular container for inserting the magnets. A plurality of induction coils installed on the inner annular cylinder, a plurality of electromotive coils installed on the outer annular cylinder for proximately contact with ends of the magnets. The magnet plates and coil plates rotate in mutually opposite direction to enhance the quality of generation and repulsive force. Thus, the rotational reaction force is continuously generated between the magnets and coil plates to enhance the rotational force. |
| US08648509B2 |
Stabilizing power source for a vehicle
A power source for a vehicle includes at least one toroidal ring positioned in a housing. The toroidal ring includes magnetic material such as permanent magnets. The toroidal ring is magnetically levitated in the housing. A propulsion winding is coupled with the housing and energizable via a power signal to move the toroidal ring. Once moving, the magnetic material and the propulsion winding cooperate to produce electrical power and/or provide a stabilizing effect for the vehicle. In some applications, such as in an aircraft application, two or more toroidal rings may be used and rotated at counter directions so as to produce a predetermined net angular momentum. |
| US08648508B2 |
Small electric motor and method for producing a small electric motor
A small electric motor is disclosed, such as a claw pole motor. An exemplary small electric motor includes a housing, a stator having at least two stator windings, a rotor having a rotational axis, and a flexible conductor foil for the electrical connection of the stator windings. The conductor foil includes winding connection contacts, external connection contacts and conductor paths between the winding connection contacts and the external connection contacts. Taps of the stator windings are electrically contacted with the winding connection contacts of the conductor foil. The conductor foil can be configured as an elongated strip having at least two connection portions which are arranged in spaced-apart relationship with each other and include winding connection contacts. |
| US08648507B2 |
Stator assembly including a terminal block for an electric machine
An electric machine includes a housing having an outer surface and an inner surface that defines an interior portion. The housing also includes a connection zone having a first end portion that extends from the outer surface to a second end portion that is exposed to the interior portion. The connection zone includes a connection passage. A terminal block extends through the connection passage. The terminal block includes a non-electrically conductive member that is sealed against the connection passage, and an electrically conductive member covered by the non-electrically conductive member. The electrically conductive member includes a first end section that extends to a second end section through an intermediate section. The first end section has a first connection zone and the second end section has a second connection zone. The second connection zone is at an angle relative to the first connection zone. |
| US08648505B2 |
Electrical machine with multiple cooling flows and cooling method
An electrical machine with a stator has a winding support, which has at least one radial cooling slot, and a rotor, which likewise has at least one radial cooling slot. The winding support of the stator has on its outer shell a number of axially running cooling ribs, along which an axially running first cooling flow can be directed. Furthermore, the rotor has axially running first cooling ducts, which open out into its at least one radial cooling slot, so that a second cooling flow can be directed in the axial direction along the axial cooling ribs of the stator through the axial first cooling ducts of the rotor, the at least one radial cooling slot of the rotor, the air gap between the rotor and the stator and the at least one radial cooling slot. In this way, the stator can be cooled by two different cooling flows. |
| US08648501B2 |
Systems and methods for providing protection circuitry to selectively handle multiple cable-types through the same port
This is generally directed to providing protection circuitry to selectively handle power-providing cables and headset cables that can couple to the same port of an electronic device. In some embodiments, the device can include a Headset Rx chip to communicate with the headset cable and a Power Rx chip to communicate with the power-providing cable. As the Headset Rx chip and the Power Rx chip can be coupled to the same contact of the device's port, these chips may prevent one another from operating correctly or may damage one another. Accordingly, in some embodiments, it can be determined whether a headset cable or a power-providing cable is coupled to the device. When a headset cable is coupled to the device, the protection circuitry can disconnect the Power Rx chip. Similarly, when a power-providing cable is coupled to the device, the protection circuitry can disconnect the Headset Rx chip. |
| US08648497B2 |
Photovoltaic power plant with distributed DC-to-DC power converters
A solar photovoltaic plant is disclosed where a number of distributed DC-to-DC converters are used in conjunction with a central DC-to-AC converter. Each DC-to-DC converter is dedicated to a portion of the photovoltaic array and tracks the maximum power point voltage thereof. The DC-to-DC converters also boost the photovoltaic voltage and regulate a DC output current for transmission to the central DC-to-AC converter. Five distinct advantages are had over the prior art. First, efficiencies in intra-field power collection are greatly improved by transferring power at higher DC voltages. Second, the number of independent photovoltaic maximum power point trackers in the power plant can be increased, in a cost effective manner, to optimize the overall photovoltaic array energy harvest. Third, each DC-to-DC converter output “looks” like a current source at the input of the DC-to-AC converter and therefore can be easily paralleled. Fourth, the current source nature of the DC-to-DC converter outputs enables the DC-to-AC converter to operate with a minimum, fixed DC bus voltage to provide maximum DC-to-AC power conversion efficiencies. And fifth, each distributed DC-to-DC converter can isolate a faulted portion of the photovoltaic array while the remainder of the array continues producing power. |
| US08648495B2 |
Smart-grid combination power system
The embodiments shown and described herein relate to a portable clean power generation and aggregation system. The system comprises a plurality of power generation units operable to generate DC electrical power, a power storage device, an inverter unit, and a main controller. The plurality of power generation units may include a solar power generation unit, a wind power generation unit, a hydro power generation unit, and a fuel-based power generation unit. The main controller is electrically coupled to the plurality of power generation units, the inverter controller, and the power storage device, and monitors DC electrical power generation by the plurality of power generation units, monitors DC electrical power received by the inverter, measures charge of the power storage device, and directs DC electrical power from the power storage device to the inverter. The nature of the system and its applications allows the effective use of wireless communications systems and the like where they would otherwise not be possible. |
| US08648493B2 |
Computer system having solar power unit and method of controlling the same
A charging system for a mobile device such as a computer, and method of operating the same are disclosed. The computer is a system that includes: a system unit being provided with power output to an operation power supply terminal to carry out an operation; a battery unit outputting battery power to the operation power supply terminal; and a solar power unit being provided with feedback on a voltage of the operation power supply terminal and outputting solar power corresponding to a predetermined operational level of the system unit to the operation power supply terminal. |
| US08648491B2 |
Passive impedance matching
Methods, devices, and systems for passive impedance matching are provided. An example of a method of passive impedance matching includes provided a substantially equivalent impedance between a source and a load for three single-phase power supplies via a geometry of a busbar. The busbar can be coupled to the three-phase power supplies as the source and coupled to a plurality of electronic machines as the load. |
| US08648485B1 |
Motion energy collection device
A improved energy collection device is disclosed comprising a base a first shaft, rotatable about an axis, a second shaft fixedly mounted to the base, rotatably adapted around the first shaft defining spring housing. A spring is contained within the spring housing of the second shaft attached at a first end to the first shaft and at a second end to the second shaft. A winder is attached to the base, connected to the energy source which rotates the winder and is connected at a second point to the second shaft which is rotated by the winder tightening the second end of the spring to a designed point then unwinding the first end of the spring rotating the first shaft while continuing to wind the second spring end A generator is connected to the end of the first shaft generating electricity as the first shaft is rotated. |
| US08648482B2 |
Wind turbine, drive train assembly, wind turbine nacelle system, methods for converting rotational energy and methods for building a nacelle and for re-equipping a wind turbine
A wind turbine with a drive train connecting a drive unit with a generator assembly is provided. The generator assembly includes a first generator with a first stator and a first rotor, the first rotor being directly connected to the drive train, and at least a second generator indirectly coupled to the drive train via a gear box. Further, a drive train assembly, a wind turbine nacelle system, a method for converting rotational energy into electrical energy, a method of building a nacelle and methods of re-equipping a wind turbine are provided. |
| US08648478B2 |
Flexible heat sink having ventilation ports and semiconductor package including the same
A heat sink includes a first adhesive layer, and a heat dissipation layer disposed on the first adhesive layer, and has ventilation ports that extend therethrough including through the first adhesive layer and the heat dissipation layer. The heat sink forms an outermost part of a semiconductor package. Thus, when the heat sink is bonded via its adhesive layer to underlying structure during a manufacturing process, the ventilation ports allow air to pass therethrough. As a result, air is not trapped in the form of bubbles between the heat sink and the underlying structure. |
| US08648469B2 |
Semiconductor package and method of mounting semiconductor die to opposite sides of TSV substrate
A semiconductor device includes a wafer level substrate having a plurality of first conductive vias formed through the wafer level substrate. A first semiconductor die is mounted to the wafer level substrate. A first surface of the first semiconductor die includes contact pads oriented toward a first surface of the wafer level substrate. A first encapsulant is deposited over the first semiconductor die. A second semiconductor die is mounted to the wafer level substrate. A first surface of the second semiconductor die includes contact pads oriented toward a second surface of the wafer level substrate opposite the first surface of the wafer level substrate. A second encapsulant is deposited over the second semiconductor die. A plurality of bumps is formed over the plurality of first conductive vias. A second conductive via can be formed through the first encapsulant and connected to the first conductive via. The semiconductor packages are stackable. |
| US08648468B2 |
Hermetic wafer level packaging
Provided is a wafer level packaging. The packaging includes a first semiconductor wafer having a transistor device and a first bonding layer that includes a first material. The packaging includes a second semiconductor wafer having a second bonding layer that includes a second material different from the first material, one of the first and second materials being aluminum -based, and the other thereof being titanium-based. Wherein a portion of the second wafer is diffusively bonded to the first wafer through the first and second bonding layers. |
| US08648467B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor memory device according to the embodiment includes: forming a first stacked-structure; forming a first stripe part and a first hook part at the first stacked-structure; forming a second stacked-structure on the first stacked-structure; forming a second stripe part and a second hook part at the second stacked-structure; repeating the above-described four steps for a certain number of times; and forming a contact plug contacting the first or second hook parts. The etching is conducted to remove the first stacked-structure in a region at which the second hook part is to be formed in the second stacked-structure higher than the first stacked-structure by one layer. The etching is conducted to remove the second stacked-structure in a region at which the first hook part is to be formed in the first stacked-structure higher than the second stacked-structure by one layer. |
| US08648466B2 |
Method for producing a metallization having two multiple alternating metallization layers for at least one contact pad and semiconductor wafer having said metallization for at least one contact pad
The invention relates to a method for producing a metallization for at least one contact pad and a semiconductor wafer having metallization for at least one contact pad. The invention relates to a metallization (and a semiconductor wafer having corresponding metallization) and to a method for the production thereof that first of all can be produced by means of physical gas phase separation (dry separation) and secondly ensures sufficient adhesion of a lot bump. The method for producing a metallization (40) for at least one contact pad (20) according to the invention comprises the following process steps: applying at least one contact pad (20) to a substrate (10), applying a barrier layer (30) to the top side of the at least one contact pad (20) and applying a metallization (40) to the top side of the barrier layer (30), characterized in that the barrier layer (30) and the metallization (40) are applied by means of physical separation and that the metallization (40) is designed as a layer structure having two multiple alternating metallization layers (41, 42), wherein the first metallization layer (41) is made of nickel or an Ni alloy having a layer thickness of less than 500 nm and the second metallization layer (42) is made of a material that is different than nickel and is electrically conductive. |
| US08648465B2 |
Semiconductor interconnect structure having enhanced performance and reliability
An interconnect structure and method for fabricating the interconnect structure having enhanced performance and reliability, by minimizing oxygen intrusion into a seed layer and an electroplated copper layer of the interconnect structure, are disclosed. At least one opening in a dielectric layer is formed. A sacrificial oxidation layer disposed on the dielectric layer is formed. The sacrificial oxidation layer minimizes oxygen intrusion into the seed layer and the electroplated copper layer of the interconnect structure. A barrier metal layer disposed on the sacrificial oxidation layer is formed. A seed layer disposed on the barrier metal layer is formed. An electroplated copper layer disposed on the seed layer is formed. A planarized surface is formed, wherein a portion of the sacrificial oxidation layer, the barrier metal layer, the seed layer, and the electroplated copper layer are removed. In addition, a capping layer disposed on the planarized surface is formed. |
| US08648454B2 |
Wafer-scale package structures with integrated antennas
Wafer-scale packaging structures and methods are provided for integrally packaging antenna structures with semiconductor RFIC (radio frequency integrated circuit) chips to form compact integrated radio/wireless communications systems for millimeter wave (mmWave) and Terahertz (THz) applications. For example, a chip package includes an RFIC chip, an antenna structure and an interface layer. The RFIC chip includes a semiconductor substrate having an active surface and an inactive surface, and a BEOL (back end of line) structure formed on the active surface of the semiconductor substrate. The antenna structure includes an antenna substrate and a planar antenna radiator formed on a surface of the antenna substrate, wherein the antenna substrate is formed of a low loss semiconductor material. The interface layer connects the antenna structure to the BEOL structure of the RFIC chip. |
| US08648453B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
In a POP type semiconductor device comprising a second semiconductor package as an upper package stacked on a first semiconductor package as a lower package, a plurality of main surface-side lands formed on a first wiring substrate of the first semiconductor package are disposed distributively on both sides of a chip mounting region as a boundary positioned at a central part of a main surface of the first wiring substrate, thus permitting the adoption of a through molding method. Consequently, a first sealing body formed on the main surface of the first wiring substrate in the first semiconductor package as a lower package extends from one second side of the first wiring substrate toward a central part of the other second side of the same substrate. |
| US08648452B2 |
Resin molded semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
This invention is directed to provide a method of manufacturing a resin molded semiconductor device with high reliability by preventing a resin leakage portion from occurring due to burrs on a lead frame formed by punching. The method of manufacturing the resin molded semiconductor device according to the invention includes bonding a semiconductor die on an island in a lead frame, electrically connecting the semiconductor die with the lead frame, resin-molding the lead frame on which the semiconductor die is bonded, and applying prior to the resin-molding a compressive pressure that is higher than a clamping pressure applied in the resin-molding to a region of the lead frame being clamped by molds in the resin-molding of the lead frame. |
| US08648438B2 |
Structure and method to form passive devices in ETSOI process flow
Techniques for fabricating passive devices in an extremely-thin silicon-on-insulator (ETSOI) wafer are provided. In one aspect, a method for fabricating one or more passive devices in an ETSOI wafer is provided. The method includes the following steps. The ETSOI wafer having a substrate and an ETSOI layer separated from the substrate by a buried oxide (BOX) is provided. The ETSOI layer is coated with a protective layer. At least one trench is formed that extends through the protective layer, the ETSOI layer and the BOX, and wherein a portion of the substrate is exposed within the trench. Spacers are formed lining sidewalls of the trench. Epitaxial silicon templated from the substrate is grown in the trench. The protective layer is removed from the ETSOI layer. The passive devices are formed in the epitaxial silicon. |
| US08648437B2 |
Trench sidewall contact Schottky photodiode and related method of fabrication
A Schottky photodiode may include a monocrystalline semiconductor substrate having a front surface, a rear surface, and a first dopant concentration and configured to define a cathode of the Schottky photodiode, a doped epitaxial layer over the front surface of the monocrystalline semiconductor substrate having a second dopant concentration less than the first dopant concentration, and parallel spaced apart trenches in the doped epitaxial layer and having of a depth less than a depth of the doped epitaxial layer. The Schottky photodiode may include a metal filler in the parallel spaced apart trenches to form a Schottky rectifying contact with the doped epitaxial layer, an anode current distributor metal layer on a surface of the doped epitaxial layer and in electrical contact with the metal filler of the parallel spaced apart trenches, a dielectric passivation layer on the anode current distributor metal layer, and a conductive metal layer over the rear surface of the monocrystalline semiconductor substrate and configured to provide an ohmic contact with the cathode. |
| US08648434B2 |
Magnetic memory devices
A magnetic memory device includes a magnetic pattern, a reference pattern, a tunnel barrier pattern interposed between the magnetic pattern and the reference pattern, and at least one magnetic segment disposed inside the magnetic pattern. The magnetic segment(s) is/are of magnetic material whose direction of magnetization has at least a component which lies in a plane perpendicular to the magnetization direction of the magnetic pattern. |
| US08648433B2 |
Method for producing oblique surfaces in a substrate and wafer having an oblique surface
A method for producing oblique surfaces in a substrate, comprising a formation of recesses on both surfaces of the substrate, until the recesses are so deep that the substrate is perforated by the two recesses. One recess is produced going out from a first main surface in the region of a first surface, and the other recess is produced going out from the second main surface in the region of a second surface, so that the first surface and the second surface do not coincide along a surface normal of the main surfaces of the substrate. Subsequently, flexible diaphragms are attached over the recesses on each of the main surfaces. If a vacuum pressure is then produced inside the recesses, the flexible diaphragms each curve in the direction of the recesses until their surfaces facing the substrate come into contact with one another, generally in the center of the recesses. |
| US08648431B2 |
Acoustic semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, an acoustic semiconductor device includes an element unit, and a first terminal. The element unit includes an acoustic resonance unit. The acoustic resonance unit includes a semiconductor crystal. An acoustic standing wave is excitable in the acoustic resonance unit and is configured to be synchronously coupled with electric charge density within at least one portion of the semiconductor crystal via deformation-potential coupling effect. The first terminal is electrically connected to the element unit. At least one selected from outputting and inputting an electrical signal is implementable via the first terminal. The electrical signal is coupled with the electric charge density. The outputting the electrical signal is from the acoustic resonance unit, and the inputting the electrical signal is into the acoustic resonance unit. |
| US08648428B2 |
Memory cell array with semiconductor selection device for multiple memory cells
A memory array that includes access devices that are each electrically coupled to more than one memory cell. The memory cells are coupled to the access devices via diode devices. The access devices include vertical semiconductor material mesas upstanding from a semiconductor base that form a conductive channel between first and second doped regions, and also planar access devices. |
| US08648427B2 |
Electronic device including an integrated circuit with transistors coupled to each other
An electronic device, including an integrated circuit, can include a buried conductive region and a semiconductor layer overlying the buried conductive region, wherein the semiconductor layer has a primary surface and an opposing surface lying closer to the buried conductive region. The electronic device can also include a first doped region and a second doped region spaced apart from each other, wherein each is within the semiconductor layer and lies closer to primary surface than to the opposing surface. The electronic device can include current-carrying electrodes of transistors. A current-carrying electrode of a particular transistor includes the first doped region and is a source or an emitter and is electrically connected to the buried conductive region. Another current-carrying electrode of a different transistor includes the second doped region and is a drain or a collector and is electrically connected to the buried conductive region. |
| US08648424B2 |
Semiconductor device including transistors having embedded source/drain regions each including upper and lower main layers comprising germanium
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a channel region, a gate insulation layer on the channel region, a gate electrode on the gate insulation layer, and source and drain regions in recesses in the substrate on both sides of the channel region, respectively. The source and drain regions include a lower main layer whose bottom surface is located at level above the bottom of a recess and lower than that of the bottom surface of the gate insulation layer, and a top surface no higher than the level of the bottom surface of the gate insulation layer, and an upper main layer contacting the lower main layer and whose top surface extends to a level higher than that of the bottom surface of the gate insulation layer, and in which the lower layer has a Ge content higher than that of the upper layer. |
| US08648421B2 |
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) device and semiconductor structure
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device is described, including a gate line, a source region at a first side of the gate line, a comb-shaped drain region disposed at a second side of the gate line and having comb-teeth parts, a salicide layer on the source region and the drain region, and contact plugs on the salicide layer on the source region and the drain region. Each comb-teeth part has thereon, at a tip portion thereof, at least one of the contact plugs. |
| US08648419B2 |
ESD protection device and method
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection clamp (21, 21′, 70, 700) for protecting associated devices or circuits (24), comprises a bipolar transistors (21, 21′, 70, 700) in which doping of facing base (75) and collector (86) regions is arranged so that avalanche breakdown occurs preferentially within a portion (84, 85) of the base region (74, 75) of the device (70, 700) away from the overlying dielectric-semiconductor interface (791). Maximum variations (ΔVt1)MAX of ESD triggering voltage Vt1 as a function of base-collector spacing dimensions D due, for example, to different azimuthal orientations of transistors (21, 21′, 70, 700) on a semiconductor die or wafer is much reduced. Triggering voltage consistency and manufacturing yield are improved. |
| US08648416B1 |
LDMOS sense transistor structure for current sensing at high voltage
An integrated circuit includes a high voltage n-channel MOS power transistor integrated with a high voltage n-channel MOS blocking transistor. The power transistor and the blocking transistor have electrically coupled drain contact regions. In one embodiment, a drain area of the power transistor is separate from a drain area of the blocking transistor. In another embodiment, the drain area of the power transistor is contiguous with the drain area of the blocking transistor. The power transistor and the blocking transistor have drain extensions with drift areas. The power transistor drift area is laterally adjacent to both sides of the blocking transistor drift area. The drift areas are aligned so that breakdown does not occur between the power transistor and the blocking transistor. The body of the blocking transistor is isolated from the substrate. |
| US08648415B2 |
Semiconductor device with impurity region with increased contact area
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an impurity region in the semiconductor substrate, and a conductive layer contacting a top surface of the impurity region and at least a side surface of the impurity region. |
| US08648414B2 |
Semiconductor structures including bodies of semiconductor material, devices including such structures and related methods
Semiconductor structures that include bodies of a semiconductor material spaced apart from an underlying substrate. The bodies may be physically separated from the substrate by at least one of a dielectric material, an open volume and a conductive material. The bodies may be electrically coupled by one or more conductive structures, which may be used as an interconnect structure to electrically couple components of memory devices. By providing isolation between the bodies, the semiconductor structure provides the properties of a conventional SOI substrate (e.g., high speed, low power, increased device density and isolation) while substantially reducing fabrication acts and costs associated with such SOI substrates. Additionally, the semiconductor structures of the present disclosure provide reduced parasitic coupling and current leakage due to the isolation of the bodies by the intervening dielectric material. |
| US08648408B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate structure disposed on the substrate and which includes a gate insulating layer and a gate electrode layer, a first nitride layer disposed on the substrate and the gate structure and which includes silicon, and a second nitride layer that is disposed on the first nitride layer and has an atomic percentage of silicon less than that of the first nitride layer. |
| US08648406B2 |
Single poly EEPROM having a tunnel oxide layer
A single poly EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), which may include at least one of the following: (1) A second conductive type well formed on and/or over a semiconductor substrate. (2) A first conductive type source and drain regions formed in the second conductive type well. The single poly EEPROM may include at least one of: (a) A tunnel oxide layer formed on and/or over the second conductive type well. (b) A floating gate formed on and/or over the tunnel oxide layer and doped with second conductive type impurity ions. (c) A first conductive type impurity region formed in the second conductive type well adjacent to the floating gate. The floating gate may be configured such that a concentration of a region of the floating gate adjacent to the drain region is higher than that of the other region of the floating gate adjacent to the impurity region. |
| US08648402B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes an active region defined by a device isolation layer and including first and second sections or regions, a gate electrode extending in a first direction across the active region over a channel between the first region and the second region and including at least one first gate tab protruding in a second direction toward the first region, and first and second contact plugs. The first gate tab covers and extends along a boundary between the active region and the device isolation layer. The first contact plug is disposed over the first region, the second contact plug is disposed over the second region, and the second contact plug has an effective width, as measured in the first direction, greater than that of the first contact plug. |
| US08648401B2 |
Domain wall assisted spin torque transfer magnetresistive random access memory structure
A semiconductor memory device includes a first ferromagnetic layer magnetically pinned and positioned within a first region of a substrate; a second ferromagnetic layer approximate the first ferromagnetic layer; and a barrier layer interposed between the first ferromagnetic layer and the first portion of the second ferromagnetic layer. The second ferromagnetic layer includes a first portion being magnetically free and positioned within the first region; a second portion magnetically pinned to a first direction and positioned within a second region of the substrate, the second region contacting the first region from a first side; and a third portion magnetically pinned to a second direction and positioned within a third region of the substrate, the third region contacting the first region from a second side. |
| US08648400B2 |
FinFET semiconductor device with germanium (GE) fins
The present disclosure provides a FinFET element. The FinFET element includes a germanium-FinFET element (e.g., a multi-gate device including a Ge-fin). In one embodiment, device includes a fin having a first portion including Ge and a second portion, underlying the first portion and including an insulating material (e.g., silicon dioxide). A gate structure may be formed on the fin. |
| US08648398B2 |
Electronic device and a transistor including a trench and a sidewall doped region
An electronic device can include a first layer having a primary surface, a well region lying adjacent to the primary surface, and a buried doped region spaced apart from the primary surface and the well region. The electronic device can also include a trench extending towards the buried doped region, wherein the trench has a sidewall, and a sidewall doped region along the sidewall of the trench, wherein the sidewall doped region extends to a depth deeper than the well region. The first layer and the buried region have a first conductivity type, and the well region has a second conductivity type opposite that of the first conductivity type. The electronic device can include a conductive structure within the trench, wherein the conductive structure is electrically connected to the buried doped region and is electrically insulated from the sidewall doped region. Processes for forming the electronic device are also described. |
| US08648395B2 |
Integrated CMOS porous sensor
A single chip wireless sensor (1) comprises a microcontroller (2) connected by a transmit/receive interface (3) to a wireless antenna (4). The microcontroller (2) is also connected to an 8 kB RAM (5), a USB interface (6), an RS232 interface (8), 64 kB flash memory (9), and a 32 kHz crystal (10). The device (1) senses humidity and temperature, and a humidity sensor (11) is connected by an 18 bit ΣΔ A-to-D converter (12) to the microcontroller (2) and a temperature sensor (13) is connected by a 12 bit SAR A-to-D converter (14) to the microcontroller (2). The device (1) is an integrated chip manufactured in a single process in which both the electronics and sensor components are manufactured using standard CMOS processing techniques, applied to achieve both electronic and sensing components in an integrated process. |
| US08648393B2 |
Transistor and semiconductor device
An accumulation mode transistor has an impurity concentration of a semiconductor layer in a channel region at a value higher than 2×1017 cm−3 to achieve a large gate voltage swing. |
| US08648388B2 |
High performance multi-finger strained silicon germanium channel PFET and method of fabrication
A field effect transistor and method of fabrication are provided. The field effect transistor comprises a plurality of elongated uniaxially-strained SiGe regions disposed on a silicon substrate, oriented such that they are in parallel to the direction of flow of electrical carriers in the channel. The elongated uniaxially-strained SiGe regions are oriented perpendicular to, and traverse through the transistor gate. |
| US08648387B2 |
Nitride semiconductor template and method of manufacturing the same
A nitride semiconductor template and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The nitride semiconductor template includes a carrier substrate with a first thermal expansion coefficient, a nitride semiconductor layer with a second thermal expansion coefficient different from the first thermal expansion coefficient, and a bonding layer. The nitride semiconductor layer disposed on the carrier substrate is at least 10 μm in thickness. A ratio of a dislocation density of the nitride semiconductor layer at a first surface to that at a second surface is from 0.1 to 10. The bonding layer is disposed between the carrier substrate and the nitride semiconductor layer to adhere the nitride semiconductor layer onto the carrier substrate. The second surface is near an interface between the nitride semiconductor layer and the bonding layer, and the first surface is 10 μm from the second surface. |
| US08648380B2 |
Light emitting device having a plurality of non-polar light emitting cells and a method of fabricating the same
The present invention relates to a light emitting device having a plurality of non-polar light emitting cells and a method of fabricating the same. Nitride semiconductor layers are disposed on a Gallium Nitride substrate having an upper surface. The upper surface is a non-polar or semi-polar crystal and forms an intersection angle with respect to a c-plane. The nitride semiconductor layers may be patterned to form light emitting cells separated from one another. When patterning the light emitting cells, the substrate may be partially removed in separation regions between the light emitting cells to form recess regions. The recess regions are filled with an insulating layer, and the substrate is at least partially removed by using the insulating layer. |
| US08648375B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device and light emitting module
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes: a semiconductor layer including a first and second surfaces, and a light emitting layer; a p-side electrode provided on the second surface; an n-side electrode provided on the second surface; a first insulating film covering the p-side and the n-side electrodes; a p-side wiring section electrically connected to the p-side electrode through the first insulating film; an n-side wiring section electrically connected to the n-side electrode through the first insulating film; and a phosphor layer provided on the first surface. The phosphor layer has an upper surface and an oblique surface, the oblique surface forming an obtuse angle with the upper surface and inclined with respect to the first surface. Thickness of the phosphor layer immediately below the oblique surface is smaller than thickness of the phosphor layer immediately below the upper surface. |
| US08648374B2 |
Light emitting diode device including a heat-radiation/light-reflection member
A light emitting diode device includes: a cathode lead frame; an anode lead frame which is electrically insulated from the cathode lead frame; a light emitting diode chip which is electrically connected to the cathode lead frame and the anode lead frame respectively; a synthetic resin member which forms an indentation receiving the light emitting diode chip and fixes the cathode lead frame and the anode lead frame; and a metallic heat-radiation/light-reflection member which covers at least a portion of the indentation and covers an upper surface of the synthetic resin member. |
| US08648371B2 |
LED unit having electrochromic element
An LED unit includes an LED and an electrochromic element mounted on the LED. The LED includes a base, a light emitting die mounted on the base, a pair of leads electrically connected to the die and an encapsulant sealing the die. The encapsulant has a first area and a second area around the first area. The first area contains yellow phosphor therein, and the second area contains red phosphor therein. The electrochromic element has an opening through which the first area of the encapsulant is exposed. The second area of the encapsulant is covered by the electrochromic element. The electrochromic element can change its color when being electrified, thereby changing the color temperature of the light output from the LED unit. |
| US08648369B2 |
Light emitting device and method of fabricating the same
Disclosed are a light emitting device and a method of fabricating the same. The light emitting device comprises a substrate. A plurality of light emitting cells are disposed on top of the substrate to be spaced apart from one another. Each of the light emitting cells comprises a first upper semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second lower semiconductor layer. Reflective metal layers are positioned between the substrate and the light emitting cells. The reflective metal layers are prevented from being exposed to the outside. |
| US08648365B2 |
Lighting emitting device package
Disclosed is a light emitting device package. The light emitting device package includes a package body including a cavity formed therein with first and second via holes, a first electrode extending from one side of the cavity to one side of a rear surface of the package body through the first via hole, a second electrode extending from an opposite side of the cavity to an opposite side of the rear surface of the package body through the second via hole, a light emitting device connected with the first and second electrodes, an insulating layer insulating the first and second electrodes from the package body, and a reflective layer disposed on the insulating layer having a structure in which first and second media having different refractive indexes are alternately stacked on each other. |
| US08648363B2 |
Organic EL display unit, method of manufacturing the same, and solution used in method
An organic electroluminescence display unit including: a lower electrode for each device; a first hole injection/transport layer provided on the lower electrode for each device; a second organic light emitting layer of the first color provided on the first hole injection/transport layer for the second organic electroluminescence device; a second hole injection/transport layer provided on the entire surfaces of the second organic light emitting layer and the first hole injection/transport layer for the first organic electroluminescence device, and being made of a low molecular material; a blue first organic light emitting layer provided on the entire surface of the second hole injection/transport layer; and an electron injection/transport layer having at least one of electron injection characteristics and electron transport characteristics, and an upper electrode that are provided in sequence on the entire surface of first organic light emitting layer. |
| US08648361B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode display includes a display substrate including a plurality of organic light emitting diodes, a plurality of color filters on the plurality of organic light emitting diodes respectively corresponding thereto, and a plurality of light scattering particles dispersed in the plurality of color filters. |
| US08648359B2 |
Light emitting devices and methods
Light emitting devices and methods such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) are disclosed for use in higher voltage applications. Variable arrangements of LEDs are disclosed herein. Arrangements can include one or more LED chips connected in series, parallel, and/or a combination thereof. LED chips can be disposed in a package body having at least one thermal element and one or more electrical components. |
| US08648350B2 |
Gallium nitride compound semiconductor light-emitting device
Provided is a gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting element, in which the concentration of Mg which is a p-type dopant in a p-GaN layer in which the (10-10) m-plane of a hexagonal wurtzite structure grows is adjusted in a range from 1.0×1018 cm−3 to 9.0×1018 cm−3. |
| US08648349B2 |
Semiconductor device
A MOSFET which is a semiconductor device capable of achieving a stable reverse breakdown voltage and reduced on-resistance includes a SiC wafer of an n conductivity type, a plurality of p bodies of a p conductivity type formed to include a first main surface of the SiC wafer, and n+ source regions of the n conductivity type formed in regions surrounded by the plurality of p bodies, respectively, when viewed two-dimensionally. Each of the p bodies has a circular shape when viewed two-dimensionally, and each of the n+ source regions is arranged concentrically with each of the p bodies and has a circular shape when viewed two-dimensionally. Each of the plurality of p bodies is arranged to be positioned at a vertex of a regular hexagon when viewed two-dimensionally. |
| US08648342B2 |
Waveguide-integrated graphene photodetectors
A photodetector includes a waveguide on a substrate, and a photodetection portion connected to the waveguide. The photodetection portion includes a first semiconductor layer, graphene on the semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer on the graphene. A first electrode and a second electrode separated from the first ridge portion and electrically connected to the graphene. |
| US08648337B2 |
Active matrix organic light-emitting diode
A stratified organic light-emitting diode structure includes a thin-film transistor and an organic light-emitting diode (OLED). The OLED is fabricated on a planarization layer that has a top surface substantially parallel to the substrate, and the layers in the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) are substantially parallel to each other. The major part of each OLED layer has a uniform thickness so that the OLED produces a uniform brightness. The planarization layer covers the thin-film transistor entirely and the planarization layer on top of the thin-film transistor is also covered by an insulation layer. In order to electrically connect the top electrode of the OLED to the drain terminal of the thin-film transistor, an opening is made through both the top insulating layer and the planarization layer to expose part of the drain terminal. Spacers with uniform height are fabricated on the top insulating layer to protect the pixel structure. |
| US08648332B2 |
Phenyltetraene-based nonlinear optical chromophores
Alkoxy-substituted phenyltetraene nonlinear optically active compounds, films and devices that include the compounds, and methods for making and using the compounds, films, and devices. |
| US08648329B2 |
Light-emitting device and projector
A light-emitting device includes a first layer, a second layer, and a semiconductor body interposed between the first and second layers, wherein the semiconductor body has a first fine-wall-shape member, a second fine-wall-shape member, and a semiconductor member interposed between the first and second fine-wall-shape members, the first and second fine-wall-shape members have a third layer, a fourth layer, and a fifth layer interposed between the third and fourth layers, the fifth layer is a layer that generates light and guides the light, the third and fourth layers are layers that guide the light generated in the fifth layer, and the first and second layers are layers that suppress leakage of the light generated in the fifth layer. |
| US08648326B2 |
Phase change memory electrode with sheath for reduced programming current
An example embodiment is a phase change memory cell that includes a bottom contact and an electrically insulating layer disposed over the bottom contact. The electrically insulating layer defines an elongated via. Furthermore, a bottom electrode is disposed at least partially in the via. The bottom electrode includes a sleeve of a first electrically conductive material surrounding a rod of a second electrically conductive material. The first electrically conductive material and the second electrically conductive material have different specific electrical resistances. The memory cell also includes a phase change layer electrically coupled to the first electrode. |
| US08648323B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and method of fabricating the same
A nonvolatile memory device includes: a substrate; a first electrode formed on the substrate; a resistance change layer formed on the first electrode, the resistance change layer containing conductive nano-material; a second electrode formed on the resistance change layer; and an insulating buffer layer disposed between the first electrode and the resistance change layer, the insulating buffer layer containing conductive material dispersed therein for assuring the electric conductivity between the first electrode and the resistance change layer. |
| US08648315B1 |
Accelerator having a multi-channel micro-collimator
An ion accelerator includes a plasma ion source and a micro-collimator. The micro-collimator has a plurality of channels. The length-to-width ratio of each channel is greater than five, and the channel width is less than one micron. The ion source is coupled to the micro-collimator such that ions from the ion source pass into the channels, and then through the plurality of channels. In one specific example, the ion source produces cold ions that have only a small amount of lateral momentum. Each channel is an individually gated acceleration channel that is formed into a solid dielectric material. Ions are accelerated down the acceleration channel. The ion accelerator forms a part of an ionjet head of a Direct Write On Wafer (DWOW) printing system. The DWOW printing system is useful in semiconductor processing in that it can direct write an image onto a 300 mm diameter wafer in one minute. |
| US08648311B2 |
Radiation detector
A radiation detector including a scintillator structure comprising a first plane and a second plane which are not positioned on the same plane, the scintillator structure having an optical waveguiding property in a direction between the first plane and the second plane; and a two-dimensional light receiving element formed of multiple pixels which are disposed parallel to either one of the first plane and the second plane. The radiation detector includes at least one smoothness-deteriorate region which is positioned in one of the first plane and the second plane of the scintillator structure and has an area of 1/6 or more of a light receiving area of each of the multiple pixels. The region is repaired by an optically transparent material so as to be smoothed. |
| US08648308B2 |
IR camera system and method
An Infra Red (IR) camera and method of operating the same is disclosed. The camera includes a detector having an infrared focal plane array (IRFPA). The camera is operated in such a fashion, implemented in software, to maximize the detector operating temperature under varying scene temperature and atmospheric conditions in order to achieve a predetermined and adequate level of sensitivity and operability from the detector. |
| US08648306B1 |
Metamaterial dispersion
The present disclosure relates to forming a dispersion of metamaterial particles in an atmosphere. The metamaterial particles can be dispersed into the atmosphere, for example, from an aircraft or another type of platform, to form the dispersion. The resulting dispersion can interact with electromagnetic signals in the atmosphere. The particles may strongly interact with both the magnetic and electric field components of the electromagnetic signals. In some implementations, the dispersion absorbs electromagnetic signals in a frequency range. In some implementations, the dispersion modifies electromagnetic signals in a frequency range, for example, by applying a phase shift, a polarization shift, a frequency shift, or a reflection angle to the electromagnetic signals. |
| US08648305B1 |
Method and system for determining energy content and detecting contaminants in a fluid stream
Methods and systems for real time, in situ monitoring of fluids, and particularly the determination of both the energy content and contaminants in a gas or oil transmission facility, are provided. The system may include two separate scanning sources to scan two different, but overlapping, NIR ranges, or may involve two separate scans from a single scanning spectroscopy source. The first scan ranges from approximately 1550 nm up through 1800 nm and a second scan concurrently scans at a high resolution across a band from approximately 1560-1610 nm, the wavelength of interest for hydrogen sulfide (though similar scans are contemplated in alternative wavelength ranges for alternative contaminants). The second scan may provide very narrow (0.005 nm) step resolution over just the wavelength of interest for the contaminant and may scan at a substantially higher power level. The spectroscopic optical data from the two scans, however obtained, must then be combined into an analytical processing module containing models that analyze the multi-scan data and yield both energy content and contaminant quantitative data. |
| US08648304B1 |
Thermal detector, thermal detection device, electronic instrument, and thermal detector manufacturing method
A thermal detector manufacturing method includes: forming a sacrificial layer on a structure including an insulating layer; forming a support member on the sacrificial layer; forming on the support member a heat-detecting element; forming a first light-absorbing layer so as to cover the heat-detecting element, and planarizing the first light-absorbing layer; forming a contact hole in a portion of the first light-absorbing layer, subsequently forming a thermal transfer member having a connecting portion that connects to the heat-detecting element and a thermal collecting portion having a surface area greater than that of the connecting portion as seen in plan view; forming a second light-absorbing layer on the first light-absorbing layer; and removing the sacrificial layer to form a cavity between the support member and the structure including the insulating layer formed on the surface of the substrate. |
| US08648302B2 |
Thermal detector, thermal detection device, electronic instrument, and thermal detector manufacturing method
A thermal detector includes a substrate; a support member supported on the substrate with a cavity interposed therebetween; a heat-detecting element formed on the support member; a first light-absorbing layer formed on the heat-detecting element and the support member so as to be in contact with the heat-detecting element; and a second light-absorbing layer formed on the first light-absorbing layer so as to be in contact with the first light-absorbing layer. The second light-absorbing layer has a higher refractive index than the first light-absorbing layer. A first wavelength resonates between a surface of the support member and an upper surface of the second light-absorbing layer, and a second wavelength, which is different from the first wavelength, resonates between an interface, at which the first light-absorbing layer and the second light-absorbing layer are in contact with each other, and the upper surface of the second light-absorbing layer. |
| US08648301B2 |
Particle beam system having a hollow light guide
A system includes a particle optical system and a photosensitive detector. The particle optical system includes a charged particle beam source and an objective lens. The charged particle beam source is configured to generate a charged particle beam that travels along a particle beam path, and the objective lens is configured to focus the particle beam onto an object plane of the particle optical system. The system is configured such that a light beam path of the system extends from the object plane to the photosensitive detector. |
| US08648293B2 |
Calibration of mass spectrometry systems
A method for operating a mass spectrometer (MS) includes establishing a pressure differential across a membrane wherein an upstream pressure in a calibrant gas inlet line on an upstream side of the membrane is greater than a downstream pressure in an ion source on a downstream side of the membrane; flowing a calibrant gas from the calibrant gas inlet line, through a nano-scale orifice of the membrane, and into the ion source; and maintaining the upstream pressure at a constant value. The calibrant may be flowed at a low flow rate. An MS system includes a membrane interposed between a calibrant gas introduction system and a mass spectrometer. The membrane may include an orifice of nano-scale diameter. |
| US08648292B2 |
Safety photoelectric switch
A photoelectric switch reduces a cost load of a user while ensuring its protection function inherent to safety equipment without impairing its safety function, and an optical scanning type photoelectric switch is provided with a muting function settable by the user, which is a function of temporarily invalidating sensing of part or the whole of a protection area, and is provided with two output systems, with respect to each of which the muting function is settable and on each output of which an inspection signal is superimposed at a different timing in a time-division manner. |
| US08648287B1 |
Image sensor using single photon jots and processor to create pixels
An imaging system has an imager comprising a plurality of jots. A readout circuit is in electrical communication with the imager. The readout circuit can be configured to facilitate the formation of an image by defining neighborhoods of the jots, wherein a local density of exposed jots within a neighborhood is used to generate a digital value for a pixel of the image. |
| US08648285B2 |
Remotely guided gun-fired and mortar rounds
A system for guiding a gun-fired or mortared round towards an intended target, the system including a round having: a forward facing image pick-up device for capturing image data; a first transceiver; guidance device for varying a flight path of the round; and a first processor. The system further including a control platform remotely located from the round, the control platform having: a second transceiver; a second processor; an input device; and a display. Where the first processor transmits image data from the image pick-up device through the first transceiver to the second processor through the second transceiver, the second processor transmits guidance information from the second transceiver to the first processor through the first transceiver and the first processor controls the guidance device based on the guidance information to guide the round towards the intended target. |
| US08648283B2 |
Insulator for electric heater and heat assembly with the same in washing machine
An insulator for an electric heater is configured to allow a heater coil to expand/contract uniformly, and permit an easy fitting of the heater coil thereto. The insulator includes a body part formed of an insulating material, a coil seating part at an end of the body part for supporting the heater coil, and a seating slot between the coil seating part and the body part for inserting the heat coil. |
| US08648278B2 |
Process for producing substrate provided with metal pattern and substrate provided with metal laminate
The present invention relates to a process for producing a substrate provided with a metal pattern by forming a pattern of a metal layer on a substrate using a laser light, the process including: a step of preparing a substrate in which the metal layer is formed on a surface thereof; a step of forming on the metal layer an assist layer which comprises a metal material different from that of the metal layer and which has a light absorptivity for the laser light different from that of the metal layer, thereby forming a metal laminate on the substrate; and a step of patterning the metal layer by irradiating the metal laminate with the laser light to remove a laser light-irradiated portion of the metal laminate, thereby forming a metal pattern on the substrate. |
| US08648277B2 |
Laser direct ablation with picosecond laser pulses at high pulse repetition frequencies
Laser direct ablation (LDA) produces patterns cut into a dielectric layer for the formation of electrically conductive traces with controlled signal propagation characteristics. LDA processing includes selecting a dose fluence for removing a desired depth of material along a scribe line on a surface of a workpiece, selecting a temporal pulsewidth for each laser pulse in a series of laser pulses, and selecting a pulse repetition frequency for the series of laser pulse. The pulse repetition frequency is based at least in part on the selected temporal pulsewidth to maintain the selected dose fluence along the scribe line. The selected pulse repetition frequency provides a predetermined minimum overlap of laser spots along the scribe line. The LDA process further includes generating a laser beam including the series of laser pulses according to the selected dose fluence, temporal pulsewidth, and pulse repetition frequency. |
| US08648276B2 |
Method for fabrication of a quadrupole mass filter or quadrupole ion trap using electrode discharge machining
A method for fabricating a quadrupole mass filter (QMF) or quadrupole ion trap (QIT) capable of generating a hyperbolic electric field. The method comprises: (a) cutting four elongate erodible metal workpieces axially at opposing extremities; (b) parallel mounting the four elongate erodible metal workpieces axially in an elongate slot in an insulating housing in a mutually spaced apart disposition such that an axial bore is formed therebetween whereby a first part of each elongate erodible metal workpiece is freely inward facing and the cutting forms a recess remote from the axis of the insulating housing; (c) electrically connecting the erodible metal workpieces; and (d) generating electrical discharges between the erodible metal workpiece and a wire electrode as the wire electrode passes through the axial bore to erode the erodible metal of the first part of the erodible metal workpiece to a hyperbolic profile. |
| US08648272B2 |
Bracket and shell assembly housing a push button switch
A bracket and shell assembly (100) includes a bracket (1) having a base portion (11) and a tail portion (14) connecting to the base portion, a switch unit (2) assembled on the base portion of the bracket, and a shell (3) covering the bracket for shielding the switch unit. The shell defines an opening (31) and a button (4) extends through the opening of the shell to be located over the switch unit. A protrusion (141) is formed on one of the tail portion and the shell. A notch (32) is defined on the other one of the tail portion and the shell. The notch correspondingly receives the protrusion for pre-mounting the shell on the bracket. |
| US08648271B2 |
Position switch and circuit breaker having the same
A position switch and a circuit breaker having a position switch are provided. Contact plates, each having an elastically variable height, may be provided between switch blocks and switch levers. A testing contact plate and a running contact plate may compensate for inferior dimensioning of the switch blocks and the switch levers. Such a configuration may allow a position of a breaker body to be quickly and accurately displayed and, further, may prevent damage of the position switch provided at the breaker body. Furthermore, such a configuration may prevent any connection inferiority between a terminal of the breaker body and a terminal of a cradle. |
| US08648270B2 |
Interrupter module with floating protection for drive pins
An interrupter module for a molded case circuit breaker has a floating antifriction disc between the module casings and the blade carrier which overlays the blade carrier with rim walls of the disc. The rim walls are located at segments of the disc containing the drive pins of the module. If gases from circuit interruption expand the interrupter module sides and force the disc away from the blade carrier, the rim walls remain over the blade carrier and protect the drive pins from contaminants carried by the gases. |
| US08648268B2 |
Electro-mechanical microwave switch
A switch for selectively routing electrical signals, particularly microwave signals, in a printed circuit board includes a rotatable contact that is connected to a shaft. A first motor is configured to rotate the shaft and a second motor is configured to axially move the shaft to lift the contact from the printed circuit board. A position controller produces driving signals that are received by the first and second motors to lift the contact from the printed circuit board, rotate the contact to a desired position and lower the contact to the circuit board. |
| US08648264B2 |
Terminal box
A terminal box comprises a box casing 2 including terminal elements incorporated into the interior thereof; a lid element 4 for closing an opening of the box casing; and an engaging mechanism 7 for fixedly engaging an engaging element 5 provided in the lid element with an engaged element 6 provided in the box casing by pressing the lid element against the box casing. The engaging element includes a projecting piece 21 extending in a pressing direction of the lid member, and an engaging pawl 23 extending in a direction vertical to the extending direction of the projecting piece and provided in part of the projecting piece other than a distal end portion 22 of the projecting piece. The engaged element has a receiving hole 24 opening toward an outer side of the box casing and allowing the distal end portion of the projecting piece to be exposed to the outside when engaged with the engaging pawl. |
| US08648262B2 |
Embedded multi-layer circuit board and noise suppression method
The invention relates to an embedded multi-layer circuit board and a noise suppression method. The embedded multi-layer circuit board comprises at least two ground layers, a power layer and a plurality of vias. The power layer is between two ground layers. Each via is electrically connected with the two ground layers and electrically isolated from the power layer. The power layer is divided to a plurality of periodical cells. Each cell comprises the same number of the vias. |
| US08648256B1 |
Intumescent swell devices
The following detailed description is directed to intumescent swell devices. According to various embodiments, the swell devices disclosed herein can be used alone or in combination with one another to provide heat and/or fire protection for electrical systems, devices, and/or assemblies. According to exemplary embodiments, intumescent electrical devices, intumescent firewall insert boxes, intumescent flanges, and/or intumescent electrical boxes are disclosed herein for use individually and/or in combination with one another. Additionally, the disclosed intumescent electrical components disclosed herein can be used in combination with intumescent electrical device cover plates, intumescent screws, and intumescent gaskets, if desired. Methods for building electrical assemblies and for retrofitting electrical assemblies to provide fire protection also are provided. |
| US08648253B1 |
Machine and process for continuous, sequential, deposition of semiconductor solar absorbers having variable semiconductor composition deposited in multiple sublayers
A method of manufacture of I-III-VI-absorber photovoltaic cells involves sequential deposition of films comprising one or more of silver and copper, with one or more of aluminum indium and gallium, and one or more of sulfur, selenium, and tellurium, as compounds in multiple thin sublayers to form a composite absorber layer. In an embodiment, the method is adapted to roll-to-roll processing of photovoltaic cells. In an embodiment, the method is adapted to preparation of a CIGS absorber layer having graded composition through the layer of substitutions such as tellurium near the base contact and silver near the heterojunction partner layer, or through gradations in indium and gallium content. In a particular embodiment, the graded composition is enriched in gallium at a base of the layer, and silver at the top of the layer. In an embodiment, each sublayer is deposited by co-evaporation of copper, indium, gallium, and selenium, which react in-situ to form CIGS. |
| US08648251B2 |
Tandem thin-film silicon solar cell and method for manufacturing the same
A tandem thin-film silicon solar cell comprises a transparent substrate, a first unit cell positioned on the transparent substrate, the first unit cell comprising a p-type window layer, an i-type absorber layer and an n-type layer, an intermediate reflection layer positioned on the first unit cell, the intermediate reflection layer including a hydrogenated n-type microcrystalline silicon oxide of which the oxygen concentration is profiled to be gradually increased and a second unit cell positioned on the intermediate reflection layer, the second unit cell comprising a p-type window layer, an i-type absorber layer and an n-type layer. |
| US08648247B2 |
SolarTurf: solar energy harvesting artificial turf
A SolarTurf unit has a plurality of solar blades, each blade comprising a donor-acceptor conjugated polymer (DA-CP) disposed between and electrically contacting a working electrode and a counter electrode where at least one of electrodes is transparent and where the plurality of solar blades have like or different DA-CPs having like color or different colors, for example, green. The SolarTurf unit includes an interconnect strip having a first electrically conductive surface and a second electrically conductive surface separated by an insulator. The working electrodes are electrically connected to the first electrically conductive surface and the counter electrodes are electrically connected to the second electrically conductive surface. The SolarTurf units can be combined into a device for harvesting light energy to provide an electric output. The SolarTurf device can have the appearance of a lawn or other plant, fungi, rock, sand or animal. |
| US08648246B2 |
Thermoelectric module and power generation apparatus
According to one embodiment, a thermoelectric module includes a housing and a power generation member. The housing has a first temperature layer and a second temperature layer, the first temperature layer and the second temperature layer being stacked, the housing further having a cylindrical through-hole provided so as to penetrate the first temperature layer and the second temperature layer. The power generation member has thermoelectric materials stacked such that current flows in one direction in the power generation member, the power generation member being provided in the through-hole so that opposite ends of each of the thermoelectric materials are positioned at the first temperature layer and the second temperature layer, respectively. |
| US08648245B1 |
AMTEC power system with thermal block
An AMTEC power system including a housing that defines a cold chamber and a hot chamber, an insulative material disposed between the cold chamber and the hot chamber, the insulative material including carbon foam, and at least one AMTEC cell received in the housing, the AMTEC cell extending into both the cold chamber and the hot chamber. |
| US08648244B2 |
Percussion instrument and method of manufacture
A percussion instrument including an acoustic chamber housing having a zigzag shape, a material chamber housing having the zigzag shape, a sound board having the zigzag shape arranged between the acoustic chamber housing and the material chamber housing to form an acoustic chamber defined by the acoustic chamber housing and the sound board, and a material chamber defined by the material chamber housing and the sound board, and particulate material arranged in the material chamber. |
| US08648242B2 |
Interactive electronic apparel incorporating a keyboard image
Embodiments are directed to a novel technique used to create electronic apparel that is powered by batteries and generates light, or sound in reaction to various sensors on the garment. The wearer through the use of various options or effects can further modify the output through the use of various options or effects. The electronic apparel includes an image of an instrument and a keypad that allows for user control of sounds generated by electronic circuits incorporated in the garment. Sound generation circuitry and speakers are coupled to the keypad in an electronic assembly that is detachably coupled to the garment in such a way as to allow regular washing of the garment without any damage to the electronic devices. |
| US08648240B2 |
Virtual tuning of a string instrument
In an un-tuned state, the strings of a string instrument are excited, and a standard adjustment factor is determined for each string. When a pitch is generated as a result of a string being strummed (e.g., during normal playing of the instrument), the pitch generated by the string is adjusted by the standard adjustment factor and an intonation adjustment factor that accounts for intonation errors. An adjusted pitch is output that is in-tune and has accurate intonation. |
| US08648237B1 |
Mandolin with integrated armrest
A mandolin having an integrated armrest provides a comfortable armrest while still allowing greater flexibility between the top and the sides of the mandolin, resulting in a construction which does not increase the rigidity of the connection between the carved top and sides of the instrument. Thus, in addition to providing greater comfort, the disclosed integral armrest has minimal negative impact on the sonic quality of the instrument, if any at all. |
| US08648236B2 |
Keyboard apparatus
A keyboard apparatus wherein a hammer body having movable and stationary engagement portions is configured such that, in its pivotal movement in a forward direction, a click feeling in a key depression touch is generated when the movable engagement portion comes into contact with and gets over the stationary engagement portion, wherein a distance from a hammer pivot shaft to the movable engagement portion at a certain key stroke position in a key depression stroke becomes smaller with an increase in a pressing drive force, and wherein the movable engagement portion comes into contact with the stationary engagement portion in the pivotal movement in the forward direction where a magnitude of the pressing drive force is less than a prescribed value, and the movable engagement portion does not come into contact with the same where the magnitude of the force is equal to or larger than the prescribed value. |
| US08648231B2 |
Wall-associated kinase-like polypeptide mediates nutritional status perception and response
The disclosure relates to methods for modulating plant growth and organogenesis using dominant-negative receptor-like kinases. The disclosure further provides a method for increasing plant yield relative to corresponding wild type plants comprising modulating the expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a Wall-Associated Kinase-like 14 polypeptide or a homolog thereof, and selecting for plants having increased yield or growth on a nutrient deficient substrate. |
| US08648229B2 |
Plant seed active transcriptional control sequences
The present invention relates generally to transcriptional control sequences for effecting expression of a nucleotide sequence of interest in a plant. More particularly, the present invention relates to transcriptional control sequences that direct specific or preferential expression of an operably connected nucleotide sequence of interest in a plant seed or one or more particular cell or tissue types therein. |
| US08648227B2 |
Method for extracting pure styrene from a pyrolysis benzine fraction
The invention relates to a method for extracting styrene, having a polymerization quality, from pyrolysis benzol fractions containing styrene by means of extractive distillation. The pyrolysis benzol fraction is separated in a separating wall column in a C8-core fraction, a C7 fraction and a C9+-fraction, the obtained C8-core fraction is subjected to selective hydrogenation of the phenylacetylene C8H6 which it contains. Subsequently, the obtained C8-fraction undergoes extractive-distillative separation in a styrene fraction and a fraction which is low in styrene. |
| US08648226B2 |
Process for producing renewable gasoline, and fuel compositions produced therefrom
The present invention provides a process for producing gasoline components from syngas. Syngas is converted to one or more of methanol, ethanol, mixed alcohols, and dimethyl ether, followed by various combinations of separations and reactions to produce gasoline components with oxygenates, such as alcohols. The syngas is preferably derived from biomass or another renewable carbon-containing feedstock, thereby providing a biorefining process for the production of renewable gasoline. |
| US08648223B2 |
Method of producing iodizing agent, and method of producing aromatic iodine compound
A method of the present invention, for producing an iodizing agent, includes the step of electrolyzing iodine molecules in a solution by using an acid as a supporting electrolyte. This realizes (i) a method of producing an iodine cation suitable for use as an iodizing agent that does not require a sophisticated separation operation after iodizing reaction is completed, and (ii) an electrolyte used in the method. Further, a method of the present invention, for producing an aromatic iodine compound, includes the step of causing an iodizing agent, and an aromatic compound whose nucleus has one or more substituent groups and two or more hydrogen atoms, to react with each other under the presence of a certain ether compound. This realizes such a method of producing an aromatic iodine compound that position selectivity in iodizing reaction of an aromatic compound is improved. |
| US08648221B2 |
Integrated process to co-produce trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane
Disclosed is an integrated process to co-produce trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-propene (1233zd(E)), trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (1234ze(E)), and 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (245fa). Overall the co-production is a three-step process. The chemistry involves the steps of: (1) the reaction of 240fa with anhydrous HF in excess in a liquid-phase catalyzed reactor in such a way as to co-produce primarily 1233zd(E) and 244fa (plus byproduct HCl); (2) the 244fa stream can then be used to directly produce any of the three desired products; (3a) the 244fa stream can be dehydrochlorinated to produce the desired second product 1234ze(E); and/or (3b) the 244fa stream can be dehydrofluorinated to produce 1233zd(E) if more of that product is desired; and/or (3c) the 244fa stream can be further fluorinated to form 245fa. |
| US08648214B2 |
Processes suitable for the preparation of salmeterol
The present invention relates to processes for the preparation of 4-hydroxy-α′-[[[6-(4-phenylbutoxy)hexyl]amino]methyl]-1,3-benzenedimethanol 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoate (salmeterol xinafoate) (12a), the preparation of 4-hydroxy-α′-[[[6-(4-phenylbutoxy)hexyl]amino]methyl]-1,3-benzenedimethanol (salmeterol) (11), the preparation of protected N-[6-(4-phenylbutoxy)hexyl]amine intermediates (7), and the preparation of 6-substituted (4-phenylbutoxy)hexane intermediates (5), shown below, wherein X is a leaving group and Pg is a protecting group. |
| US08648210B2 |
Method for purifying lipid material
The present invention relates to a method for purification of lipid material originating from biological material. In the method the lipid material comprising acylglycerols and phosphorus impurities and at least one added nonpolar solvent and at least one added polar solvent is provided into a reaction zone whereby at least a two phase system comprising a nonpolar phase and a polar phase is formed. The phase system is heated in the closed reaction zone under mixing at a temperature from 150° C. to 300° C. and at a pressure wherein said solvents are in subcritical state, preferably of below 100 bar, dependent on the vapor pressure of the selected solvents, until the phosphorus impurity is removed from the polar phase. Subsequently, the nonpolar phase including the purified oil comprising acylglycerols is separated and recovered from said phase system. |
| US08648206B2 |
Light-activated actuator element
Disclosed is light-driven actuator element characterized in that, inter alia, it can be reduced to micrometer size, is rapidly responsive, and reversibly changes to enable repeated use. The light-driven actuator element includes a crystal of diarylethene compound which changes shape upon photoisomerization (e.g., the compound of Structural Formula (I) below, where R1 represents a hydrogen atom or methyl group and R2 represents a methyl group). The element can be a rod-shaped or plate-like microcrystal having a size on the order of micrometer. The element bends (or contracts) on irradiation with ultraviolet light and expands to return to the original size on irradiation with visible light. |
| US08648200B2 |
Imidazole derivatives useful for the treatment of arthritis
The present invention provides compounds of the formula below: where A, X and R1-R6 are as described herein, a pharmaceutical salt thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition containing this compound; methods of treating pain associated with osteoarthritis using one of the compounds or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and processes for preparing the compounds. |
| US08648199B2 |
Process for making a solid-state form of AMG 706
The anti-angiogenic drug AMG 706 is provided in amorphous form. Also provided is AMG 706 drug substance wherein the AMG 706 is present, in at least a detectable amount, as amorphous AMG 706. Also provided is an AMG 706-crystallization inhibitor composite comprising particles of amorphous AMG 706 or a AMG 706 drug substance of the invention in intimate association with one or more crystallization inhibitors, for example polymers. Also provided is a pharmaceutical composition comprising such an AMG 706-crystallization inhibitor composite and one or more excipients. Also provided are processes for preparing amorphous AMG 706, AMG 706 drug substance of the invention, an AMG 706-crystallization inhibitor composite of the invention, and a pharmaceutical composition of the invention. Also provided is a method of treating a medical condition or disorder in a subject where treatment with an anti-angiogenic is indicated, comprising administering, for example orally, a composition of the invention in a therapeutically effective amount. |
| US08648197B2 |
Substituted piperazinyl-pyrrolidine compounds useful as chemokine receptor antagonists
The present invention relates to compounds useful as Chemokine Receptor antagonists. Compounds of general formula I are provided: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compounds and compositions for the inhibition of Chemokine Receptors and also for the treatment of various diseases, conditions, or disorders, including acute or chronic inflammatory disease, cancer or osteolytic bone disorders. |
| US08648196B2 |
Preparation of pyridonecarboxylic acid antibacterials
A process for making 1-(6-amino-3,5-difluoropyridin-2-yl)-8-chloro-6-fluoro-7-(3-hydroxyazetidin-1-yl)-4-oxo-1,4-dihydro-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid, and therapeutically acceptable salts thereof, and intermediates used in the process are disclosed. |
| US08648195B2 |
Stabilized crystal of 2-ethyl-3,7-dimethyl-6-(4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy)quinoline-4-yl methyl carbonate, process for producing the crystal, and agricultural chemical composition comprising the crystal
An objective of the present invention is to provide a crystal of 2-ethyl-3,7-dimethyl-6-(4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy)quinoline-4-yl methyl carbonate having stable physicochemical properties. The objective is attained by a crystal of 2-ethyl-3,7-dimethyl-6-(4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy)quinoline-4-yl methyl carbonate that exhibits a diffraction peak pattern shown in FIG. 1 as determined by powder X-ray diffractometry. |
| US08648194B2 |
Compounds having phenanthroline structure
The present invention provides a novel compound having a phenanthroline structure represented by formula (I) or a salt thereof: |
| US08648193B2 |
Dinitroxide-type biradical compounds optimized for dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP)
The present invention relates to the field of organic chemistry and in particular to organic free radicals used as polarizing agents in the technique of Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP), which involves transferring the polarization of electron spins to the nuclei of a compound whose Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is being observed. It concerns dinitroxide-type biradical polarizing agents characterized by a rigid linkage between the nitroxide units that enables optimal orientation and distance to be maintained between the aminoxyl groups of said nitroxide units. This particular structure enables, at low temperatures and high fields, optimal transfer of polarization and optimal enhancement of NMR/MAS signals of the polarized nuclei of the compound studied. |
| US08648191B2 |
Cyclohexyloxy substituted heterocycles, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and processes for preparing them
The present invention relates to cyclohexyloxy-substituted heterocycles of general formula (I) the tautomers, the stereoisomers, the mixtures thereof and the salts thereof, particularly the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic or organic acids, which have valuable pharmacological properties, particularly an inhibitory effect on signal transduction mediated by tyrosine kinases, the use thereof for the treatment of diseases, particularly tumoral diseases as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), diseases of the lungs and airways and the preparation thereof. |
| US08648185B2 |
RNA interference mediated inhibition of gene expression using chemically modified short interfering nucleic acid (siNA)
The present invention concerns methods and reagents useful in modulating gene expression in a variety of applications, including use in therapeutic, diagnostic, target validation, and genomic discovery applications. Specifically, the invention relates to synthetic chemically modified small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules capable of mediating RNA interference (RNAi) against target nucleic acid sequences. The small nucleic acid molecules are useful in the treatment of any disease or condition that responds to modulation of gene expression or activity in a cell, tissue, or organism. |
| US08648181B2 |
Methods and compositions of DNA ligands for arthropod-borne pathogen detection and prophylaxis or therapy
Specific DNA ligand sequences for binding various arthropod-borne pathogens including arboviruses, rickettsia and parasites are described. Each of these sequences or their linear, two-and three-dimesional linked sequences can function in varying assay and sensor formats with varying degrees of success. Linkage of the whole or partial DNA sequences (putative binding sites) can be used to enhance specificity and affinity towards complex targets, thereby improving assay selectivity and sensitivity in many instances. In addition, the DNA sequences may bind and neutralize or prevent infection from arthropod-borne viruses, rickettsia and Leishmania or other parasites. |
| US08648178B2 |
Method for purifying bone morphogenetic protein
The present invention relates to a method for purifying a protein belonging to the TGF-β, superfamily, preferably BMP, and more preferably BMP-2. According to the invention, the number of purification steps is reduced and the purification process is simplified, compared to the conventional BMP-2 purification method. Thus, the time required for purification can be shortened and the cost can be reduced. In addition, the invention solves the problem that as the time for purification increases and the number of purification steps increases, BMP-2 is degraded by protease or lost during purification steps, resulting in a decrease in the final yield of BMP-2. Thus, the invention increases the final yield of BMP-2. In addition, according to the invention, although the number of purification steps is reduced, BMP-2 having high purity is obtained in high yield by optimizing and using filtrations and chromatographies, and columns, types and concentrations of buffers, and a cut-off size of membrane used in diafiltration, which are different from those of the conventional BMP-2 purification method. |
| US08648177B2 |
Lyophilization methods, compositions, and kits
Method for lyophilization is provided, in particular methods for lyophilization of formulations comprising AT III. Also provided are compositions prepared by therefrom. Also provided are kits comprising the compositions and/or lyophilized products. |
| US08648176B2 |
Engineered proteins with high affinity for DOTA chelates
The present invention features, inter alia, compositions and methods for the treatment of cancer and infectious disease. The compositions include engineered proteins that specifically bind a metal chelate and may be bispecific. For example, the engineered proteins may bind (a) a target (e.g., a cellular protein) on a cancerous cell or a pathogen and (b) a metal chelate comprising DOTA, or an active variant thereof, and a metal ion such as a radionuclide. By virtue of the multiple binding sites, the engineered protein effectively delivers a metal chelate to a cell one wishes to destroy. |
| US08648175B2 |
Stable pharmaceutical composition comprising erythropoietin
The present invention provides a new stable pharmaceutical composition of erythropoietin (EPO) that is stabilized with PVP. |
| US08648172B2 |
Anti-MUC1 α/β antibodies
The present invention provides antibodies that simultaneously bind the α- and β-subunits of an intact MUC1 protein, and methods for making and using such antibodies. |
| US08648171B2 |
Members of the FC receptor homolog gene family (FcRH1-3,6) related reagents and uses thereof
The invention relates to members of the Fc receptor homolog (FcRH) subfamily, as well as fragments and variants thereof. Each FcRH is a Type I transmembrane receptor, preferably, comprises an extracellular region, a transmembrane region, and a cytoplasmic region. The cytoplasmic region preferably comprises one or more immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory or activation motifs (“ITIMs” or “ITAMs). The invention provides polypeptides, nucleic acids, vectors, expression systems, and antibodies and antibody fragments related to the FcRHs as well as uses thereof. Such uses include uses in the diagnosis and treatment of a malignancy of hematopoietic cell lineage or an inflammatory or autoimmune disease in a subject and in the modulation of a humoral immune response in a subject. |
| US08648170B2 |
Peptide-presenting surfaces for long-term culture of pluripotent cells
The present invention relates to methods of growing and maintaining pluripotent cells on an insoluble substrate that presents a peptide that binds to glycosaminoglycans, such as heparin. Specifically, methods of growing and maintaining pluripotent cells on substrates having a chemically defined surface presenting at least one peptide having basic amino acid residues separated by one or two hydrophobic amino acid residues. |
| US08648167B1 |
Polymer scaffold degradation control via chemical control
A variety of polymers and copolymers suitable for use as biologically compatible constructs and, as a non-limiting specific example, in the formation of degradable tissue scaffolds as well methods for synthesizing these polymers and copolymers are described. The polymers and copolymers have degradation rates that are substantially faster than those of previously described polymers suitable for the same uses. Copolymers having a synthesis route which enables one to fine tune the degradation rate by selecting the specific stoichiometry of the monomers in the resulting copolymer are also described. The disclosure also provides a novel synthesis route for maleoyl chloride which yields monomers suitable for use in the copolymer synthesis methods described herein. |
| US08648155B2 |
Polyether ether ketone/polyphenylene sulfide blend
The present description discloses a polymeric composition which is a melt-processed alloy comprised of (a) a polyarylene sulfide resin, (b) a polyaryl-ether-ketone resin, and a reactive compound which results in (c) a graft copolymer of the polyarylene sulfide resin and/or the polyaryl-ether-ketone resin in addition to the starting resins. Exemplary melt-processed polymeric compositions can be made by reacting an alkoxy silane with the polyarylene sulfide resin and/or the polyaryl-ether-ketone resin to produce a graft copolymer of a portion of one or both of the resins, sufficient to render the composition uniform and homogeneous. It is normally preferred for the exemplary organosilane compound, to be an amino silane. The subject invention further reveals an insulated wire comprising (1) an electrical conductor and (2) a layer of the melt-processed alloy composition; and fiber reinforced composites comprising fibers substantially fully impregnated with the alloy polymeric composition. |
| US08648154B2 |
Phosphorus-containing phenol novolac resin, hardener comprising the same and epoxy resin composition
This invention relates to a novel phosphorus-containing phenol novolac resin, use of the phosphorus-containing phenol novolac resin as a halogen-free flame retardant epoxy hardener, and an epoxy resin composition having high phosphorus content because it includes the phosphorus-containing phenol novolac resin, thereby exhibiting superior flame retardancy and heat resistance. |
| US08648151B2 |
Piezoelectric polymer material, process for producing same, and piezoelectric element
The invention provides a piezoelectric polymer material including a helical chiral polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 50,000 to 1,000,000 and having optical activity, the piezoelectric polymer material having a piezoelectric constant d14 at 25° C. of 10 pC/N or more, a degree of crystallinity obtained by X-ray diffraction of from 40% to 80%, and a haze of from 0.5 to 30. |
| US08648148B2 |
Low gloss mass polymerized rubber-modified monovinylidene aromatic copolymer composition
Disclosed is a mass polymerized rubber-modified monovinylidene aromatic copolymer composition with an excellent balance of aesthetic, physical and mechanical properties, in particular good impact with low consistent gloss across an injection molded textured part, and a method for preparing such a composition. |
| US08648147B2 |
Melt-fabricable perfluoropolymers having improved heat aging property
Heat aging of the composition comprising melt-fabricable tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer, the alkyl containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms and melt flowable polytetrafluoroethylene is effective to cause thermal transformation of the composition in the solid state, which is epitaxial co-crystallization of the polymer components of the composition, and other valuable changes, such as increased continuous use temperature. |
| US08648145B2 |
Thermoplastic elastomer vulcanizate and process for preparing same
The present invention relates to a thermoplastic elastomer vulcanizate having two respectively thermoplastic and liquid silicone elastomer phases, and the preparation process thereof. The invention also provides a elastomer having a first phase (A) based on at least one thermoplastic polymer; a second phase based on at least one two-component (B1 and B2) liquid silicone elastomer crosslinked by hydrosilylation; and a system for compatibilizing these phases that includes: at least one polymer (C1) chosen from grafted polyolefins, terpolymers containing poly(vinylaromatic/conjugated diene/methyl methacrylate) blocks, terpolymers containing poly(methyl methacrylate/alkyl acrylate/methyl methacrylate) blocks, ethylene/alkyl(meth)acrylate/acrylic acid terpolymers and polymers resulting from at least one glycidyl ester; and a polyorganosiloxane (C2) with SiH functional group(s), in order to obtain a homogeneous dispersion of these phases by reactive extrusion with at least the second phase which is continuous therein, according to a particular injection sequence and particular shear and temperature conditions, this blend having improved mechanical properties. |
| US08648143B2 |
Process for producing thermoplastic molding compositions based on styrene copolymers and polyamide with improved toughness
Processes for producing thermoplastic molding compositions, which comprise a) from 3 to 79% by weight of one or more (methyl)styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers, which have no maleic-anhydride-derived units, b) from 15 to 91% by weight of one or more polyamides, c) from 5 to 50% by weight of one or more rubbers, d) from 1 to 25% by weight of one or more compatibilizers, e) from 0 to 2% by weight of one or more low-molecular-weight compounds which comprise a dicarboxylic anhydride group, f) from 0 to 50% by weight of one or more fibrous or particulate fillers, and g) from 0 to 40% by weight of further additives, by producing a melt comprising components A, B, and C in a first step and subsequently incorporating D, Also, thermoplastic molding compositions obtainable by these processes, the use of these thermoplastic molding compositions, and moldings, fibers, and foils comprising these thermoplastic molding compositions. |
| US08648141B2 |
Styrene butadiene rubber with novel styrene incorporation
The present invention relates to improved compositions of SSBR rubber. The improved compositions exhibit sufficient or improved balance of characteristics such as rolling resistance, HBU, abrasion, grip, and/or tear. The compositions may be made in an efficient, cost-effective manner. |
| US08648137B2 |
Nitrile copolymer latex composition and nitrile copolymer rubber composition
A nitrile copolymer latex composition containing a latex of a nitrile copolymer rubber (A) having α,β-ethylenically unsaturated nitrile monomer units in 10 to 75 wt %, conjugated diene monomer units in 5 to 89.9 wt %, and cationic monomer units and/or monomer units able to form cations in 0.1 to 20 wt %, an inorganic filler (B) having an aspect ratio of 30 to 2,000, and a plasticizer (C) having an SP value by the HOY method of 8 to 10.2 (cal/cm3)1/2, wherein a content of said plasticizer (C) is 0.1 to 200 parts by weight with respect to said nitrile copolymer rubber (A) as 100 parts by weight is provided. |
| US08648132B2 |
Nanocomposite method of manufacture
Disclosed are systems and methods for the formation of a polymer nanocomposite material using a high-concentration masterbatch as a source of nanocomposite filler. |
| US08648128B2 |
Writing substance for writing, drawing and/or painting tools
A polymer-bound writing substance for writing, drawing and/or painting tools, particularly for pencils or colored pencils, including at least one polymer bonding agent, at least one wax, and at least one filler material, wherein the writing substance is further provided with 0.1 to 5 wt % of palm kernel oil, and/or coconut butter, and/or coconut oil, and/or oleic acid. |
| US08648127B2 |
Self decontaminating chemical and biological agent resistant coating
The disclosure provides for a self decontaminating coating and method. The coating comprises a polyurethane component having a solids content in the range of about 10 weight percent to about 100 weight percent and having at least one volume percent free space, a chemical active, and a biological active. In another disclosed embodiment, a method of reducing the transportation of chemical contaminants and biological contaminants is provided comprising the steps of providing a self decontaminating coating comprising a polyurethane component having a polyurethane component having a solids content in the range of about 10 weight percent to about 100 weight percent and having at least one volume percent free space, a chemical active, and a biological active, and applying the coating to a surface of an aircraft, rotorcraft, vehicle, item of equipment, or architectural structure. |
| US08648126B2 |
Radiation-curable coating compositions
The present invention relates to new, radiation-curable coating compositions producing coatings of high flexibility and enhanced tensile strength. |
| US08648122B2 |
Method of foaming polyolefin using acrylated epoxidized fatty acid and foam produced therefrom
The presently disclosed subject matter relates generally to method of producing thermoplastic foam from a blend of polyolefin and acrylated epoxidized fatty acid using a phsyical blowing agent. Specifically, the presently disclosed subject matter includes embodiments wherein the acrylated epoxidized fatty acid is added to the polyolefin resin in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 10%, based on the total weight of the resin. The presently disclosed subject matter also includes the foam produced by the disclosed method. |
| US08648117B2 |
Methods and compositions for treating cancer metastasis
The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating cancer metastasis by cyclohexenone compounds. |
| US08648113B2 |
Mixture and compounds from mycelia of Antrodia camphorata and use thereof
The present invention relates to a compound derived from mycelium of Antrodia camphorata. The present invention also relates to the composition or mycelium comprising the compounds of the invention. The composition of the invention decreases systolic blood pressure and increases high density lipoprotein. |
| US08648111B2 |
N1-2-thiophene-2-ylethyl-N2-substituted biguanide derivate, preparation method thereof, and pharmaceutical composition containing the same as active ingredients
The present invention provides an N1-2-thiophen-2-ylethyl-N2-substituted biguanide derivative of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a method for preparing same, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising same as an active ingredient. The inventive N1-2-thiophen-2-ylethyl-N2-substituted biguanide derivative exhibits improved blood glucose level- and lipid level-lowering effects even with a reduced dosage as compared to conventional drugs, and thus, it is useful for preventing or treating diabetes, metabolic syndromes such as insulin-independent diabetes, obesity and atherosclerosis, or a P53 gene defect-related cancer. |
| US08648109B2 |
Forms of [R-(R*,R*)]-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-β,δ-dihydroxy-5-(1-methylethyl)-3-phenyl-4-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-1H-pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid magnesium
Novel forms of atorvastatin magnesium salt designated Form A, Form B, Form C, Form D, Form E, and Form F, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, methods for their preparation and methods utilizing the compounds for treatment of hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, osteoporosis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and Alzheimer's disease are described. |
| US08648102B2 |
Compounds for treatment of cell proliferative diseases
The present invention concerns compounds and their use to treat cell proliferative diseases such as cancer. Compounds of the present invention display significant potency as kinase inhibitors, cause the downregulation of c-myc, and inhibit the growth and survival of cancerous cell lines. |
| US08648101B2 |
Nematicidal agent composition and method of using the same
The present invention provides a nematocide containing, as an active ingredient, an N-2-(pyridyl)ethylcarboxamide derivative represented by the formula (I): wherein Ar is a substituted phenyl group having one or more, the same or different substituents selected from a halogen atom, a (C1-C6)alkyl group, a halo(C1-C6)alkyl group, a (C1-C6)alkylthio group, a halo(C1-C6)alkylthio group, a (C1-C6)alkoxy group and a halo(C1-C6)alkoxy group, and the like, X may be the same or different, and is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a (C1-C6)alkyl group, a halo(C1-C6)alkyl group, and the like, and n is the integer 0 to 4, or a salt thereof, and a method of controlling nematodes, including applying the above compound. The present invention can provide a nematocide or a method of controlling nematodes that exerts a reduced impact on the global environment, exhibits a broad nematode control spectrum at low application rates, and has an excellent nematode control effect. |
| US08648100B2 |
Roflumilast for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension
The invention relates to the use of Roflumilast, Roflumilast N-Oxide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of either for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. The invention additionally relates to the use of Roflumilast, Roflumilast N-oxide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of either in combination with a PDE5 inhibitor or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. |
| US08648096B2 |
N-methylaminomethyl isoindole compounds and compositions comprising and methods of using the same
This invention relates to N-methylaminomethyl isoindole compounds. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and methods for treating, preventing and managing various disorders are also disclosed. |
| US08648092B2 |
Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives: preparation and pharmaceutical applications
The present invention relates to hydroxamate compounds which are inhibitors of histone deacetylase. More particularly, the present invention relates to imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine containing compounds and methods for their preparation. These compounds may be useful as medicaments for the treatment of proliferative disorders as well as other diseases involving, relating to or associated with enzymes having histone deacetylase activities (HDAC). |
| US08648091B2 |
Dihydroquinolinones as ectoparasiticides
Disclosed are uses of dihydroquinolinone derivatives for combating ectoparasites on non-human animals. Example ectoparasites include, for example, representatives of the order acarina, including ticks and mites. Also disclosed are compositions containing dihydroquinolinone derivatives. |
| US08648083B2 |
Method of treating diabetic hyperlipidemia or hyperlipidemia with carbamoyloxy arylalkanoyl arylpiperazine compounds
A method of treating diabetic hyperlipidemia or lipidemia with carbamoyloxy arylalkanoyl arylpiperazine compounds including: |
| US08648080B2 |
Acid pump antagonist for the treatment of diseases involved in abnormal gastrointestinal motility
The present invention relates to a use of a compound having an acid pump antagonistic activity, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a pharmaceutical composition thereof for the manufacture of a medicament for prevention or treatment of diseases in which abnormal gastrointestinal motility is involved. In addition, the present invention relates to the method of prevention or treatment including administering to a human or animal. The compound, the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or pharmaceutical compositions containing them, may be used in combination with one or more second active agent. Further, the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising a compound having an acid pump antagonistic activity or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the prevention or treatment of said diseases. |
| US08648078B2 |
PLK inhibitor salts
The present invention relates to novel crystalline, water-soluble salts of a plk inhibitor. Such crystal salts are for example L-tartrate, succinate, phosphate, mesylate, maleate, L-malate, hydrochloride, fumarate (half mole of counterion), fumarate, citrate (half mole of counterion), benzenesulfonate and L-aspartate (half mole of counterion). New crystal forms of the base as well as solvates and hydrates of such new salt forms, a process for their preparation, their utility in therapy and to the pharmaceutical compositions containing them are also claimed and described in the present application. |
| US08648077B2 |
4-((6bR,10aS)-3-methyl-2,3,6b,9,10,10a-hexahydro-1H-pyrido[3′,4′:4,5]pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]quinoxalin-8(7H)-yl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-butanone toluenesulfonic acid addition salt and salt crystals
The present invention relates to toluenesulfonic acid addition salt crystals of 4-((6bR,10aS)-3-Methyl-2,3,6b,9,10,10a-Hexahydro-1H-Pyrido[3′,4′:4,5]Pyrrolo[1,2,3-De]Quinoxalin-8(7H)-yl)-1-(4-Fluorophenyl)-1-Butanone, the method of making and using such crystals. |
| US08648075B2 |
Substituted pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazines and an agrochemical composition thereof
The present invention is to provide an oxopyrazine derivative having an excellent herbicidal activity and besides exhibiting high safety for useful crops and the like, or a salt thereof, and a herbicide containing the same.The present invention relates to an oxopyrazine derivative represented by formula [I]: wherein X1 represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom; X2 represents CH or N(O)m; m represents an integer of 0 or 1; R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-C12 alkyl group and the like; R2 represents a halogen atom, a cyano group and the like; R3 is a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom and the like; A1 represents C(R4R5); A2 represents C(R6R7) or C═O; A3 represents C(R8R9); R4 to R9 represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, or a salt thereof, and a herbicide containing these compounds. |
| US08648073B2 |
Certain dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors
Provided are certain dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of use therefor. |
| US08648072B2 |
Cannabinoid receptor antagonists/inverse agonists useful for treating metabolic disorders, including obesity and diabetes
The present invention provides novel pyrazolines that are useful as cannabinoid receptor blockers and pharmaceutical compositions thereof and methods of using the same for treating obesity, diabetes, inflammatory disorders, cardiometabolic disorders, hepatic disorders, and/or cancers. |
| US08648071B2 |
Hydrazonamide compounds that modulate Hsp90 activity
The present invention relates to substituted hydrazonamide compounds. The invention further relates to methods of inhibiting the activity of Hsρ90 in a subject in need thereof and methods for treating hyperproliferative disorders, such as cancer, in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject a substituted hydrazonamide compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutical composition comprising such a compound. |
| US08648060B2 |
Use of 3-alpha-androstanediol in combination with a 5-HT1a agonist, in the treatment of sexual dysfunction
The invention relates to the field of male and/or female sexual dysfunction. The invention specifically relates to the use of 3-alpha-androstanediol, preferably in combination with a 5-HT1A agonist. Optionally, said 3-alpha-androstanediol and said 5HT1a agonist are further combined with a type 5 phosphodiesterase (PDE5) inhibitor. |
| US08648058B2 |
Diazeniumdiolate cyclopentyl derivatives
A compound of formula I, wherein R1-R7 are defined herein, or stereoisomers therof, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts of stereoisomers thereof, and methods of using these compounds for treating hypertension. |
| US08648052B2 |
Prevention of chlamydia infection using SIRNA
The present invention provides methods and compositions useful in the treatment or prevention of Chlamydia infections. The methods and compositions inhibit the entry of Chlamydia into a host cell expressing EMP2 by interfering with the interaction between the Chlamydia and EMP2. The compositions include EMP2 nucleic acids and polypeptides as well as anti-EMP2 antibodies. |
| US08648050B2 |
Methods and formulations for reducing amphotericin B treatment side effects
A method of ameliorating amphotericin treatment side effects in a mammal that comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a formulation that comprises a polyene active ingredient that includes amphotericin B, wherein the amphotericin B compound is present, in terms of polyene content, in an amount greater than 90%, and non-amphotericin B polyene compounds are present in an amount of no greater than 10%, and a pharmaceutically effective carrier; and administering a therapeutically effective amount of said formulation to a subject in need thereof. |
| US08648048B2 |
Methods of providing therapeutic effects using cyclosporin components
Methods of treating an eye of a human or animal include administering to an eye of a human or animal a composition in the form of an emulsion including water, a hydrophobic component and a cyclosporin component in a therapeutically effective amount of less than 0.1% by weight of the composition. The weight ratio of the cyclosporin component to the hydrophobic component is less than 0.8. |
| US08648047B2 |
Methods and compositions for inhibition of multi-drug resistance by hyaluronan oligomers
Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for sensitizing multi-drug resistant cancer or radiation resistant cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents are provided. Compositions include ligands of hyaluronan receptors, including glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronan oligomers and derivatives of these oligomers, hyaluronan binding proteins, antibodies specific for hyaluronan receptors, hyaluronan mimetics, inhibitors of hyaluronan synthesis, and stimulators of hyaluronan degradation. |
| US08648045B2 |
VDAC1 compositions and methods of use thereof for regulating apoptosis
The present invention relates generally to the mitochondrial protein, voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC), polynucleotides encoding same and variants thereof, as well as peptide fragments, peptide derivatives and analogs. In particular, the present invention is directed to VDAC1 and specific amino acid and polynucleotide sequences thereof useful in inducing or regulating apoptosis and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising same useful in the treatment of diseases associated with aberrant apoptosis. |
| US08648043B2 |
Method of reducing injury to mammalian cells
A method of inhibiting the binding between N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and neuronal proteins in a neuron the method comprising administering to the neuron an effective inhibiting amount of a peptide replacement agent for the NMDA receptor or neuronal protein interaction domain that effect said inhibition of the NMDA receptor neuronal protein. The method is of value in reducing the damaging effect of injury to mammalian cells. Postsynaptic density-95 protein (PSD-95) couples neuronal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) to pathways mediating excitotoxicity and ischemic brain damage. This coupling was disrupted by transducing neurons with peptides that bind to modular domains on either side of the PSD-95/NMDAR interaction complex. This treatment attenuated downstream NMDAR signaling without blocking NMDAR activity, protected cultured cortical neurons from excitotoxic insults and dramatically reduced cerebral infarction volume in rats subjected to transient focal cerebral ischemia. The treatment was effective when applied either before, or one hour after, the onset of excitotoxicity in vitro and cerebral ischemia in vivo. This approach prevents negative consequences associated with blocking NMDAR activity and constitutes practical therapy for stroke. |
| US08648038B2 |
(2-aryloxyacetylamino)phenylpropionic acid derivatives, processes for preparation thereof and use thereof as medicaments
The invention relates to substituted (2-aryloxyacetylamino)phenylpropionic acid derivatives, and to the physiologically acceptable salts thereof.The invention relates to compounds of the formula I in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9 and A are each defined as specified, and the physiologically compatible salts thereof. The compounds are suitable, for example, for treatment of diabetes. |
| US08648037B2 |
Macrocyclic proline derived HCV serine protease inhibitors
The present invention discloses compounds of Formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: which inhibit serine protease activity, particularly the activity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-NS4A protease. 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. |
| US08648036B2 |
Use of nutritional compositions including lactoferrin and one or more prebiotics in inhibiting adhesion of pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract
A method for inhibiting the adhesion of at least one pathogen in the gastrointestinal tract of a human is disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, the method involves administering to the human a nutritional composition including a fat or lipid source, a protein source, a prebiotic composition that includes galactooligosaccharide and/or polydextrose and lactoferrin produced by a non-human source. |
| US08648032B2 |
Phenol ester as perfuming ingredient
The present invention relates to the field of perfumery. More particularly, it concerns the use as perfuming ingredients of certain phenol esters of formula wherein R represents a C2-6 branched alkyl group or a C2-6 linear or branched alkenyl group or cyclopropyl containing hydrocarbon group. The present invention concerns also the compositions or articles containing such compounds. |
| US08648030B2 |
Self-cleaning oven deodorants and methods for cleaning ovens
Oven deodorants and methods of cleaning ovens using an oven deodorant, for example, for use in self-cleaning ovens, are provided. The oven deodorant is made of clay, for example, an unfired clay, and a fragrance. The fragrance volatilizes during heating in the oven and at least partially masks any undesirable odors generated in the oven, for example, the volatilized fragrance may mask odors generated during a high-temperature self-cleaning process. The clay may be any commercially available clay, for example, a pottery clay. The fragrance may be any conventional fragrance, for example, a fragrant oil, such, as an herb-like fragrant oil. |
| US08648026B2 |
Composition comprising an alkanesulfonic acid for dissolving and/or inhibiting deposition of scale on a surface of a system
A composition for dissolving and/or inhibiting deposition of scale on a surface of a system comprises an acidic component, a wetting agent, and a corrosion inhibitor. The composition may further comprise water. The acidic component comprises an alkanesulfonic acid, e.g. methanesulfonic acid (MSA). The wetting agent comprises a surfactant. The corrosion inhibitor comprises an amphoteric surfactant. The alkanesulfonic acid is present in an amount of at least about 50 weight percent (wt %), the surfactant is present in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 30 wt %, and the amphoteric surfactant is present in an amount of from about 0.025 to about 20 wt %, each based on 100 wt % of the alkanesulfonic acid, the surfactant, and the amphoteric surfactant combined. A method of dissolving and/or inhibiting deposition of scale on the surface of the system comprises the step of contacting the surface of the system with the composition. |
| US08648022B2 |
Lubricating oil for refrigerator and hydraulic fluid composition for refrigerator using the same
The present invention proposes a lubricating oil for refrigerators comprising, as the base oil, a polyester-based derivative or a polyvinyl ether derivative and a polycarbonate-based oxygenated compound; a polyoxyalkylene glycol derivative; or a polyester-based derivative or a polyvinyl ether derivative and a polyoxyalkylene glycol derivative. The lubricating oil exhibits excellent miscibility with a refrigerant having one carbon atom and no chlorine atoms and, in particular, with difluoromethane and provides a hydraulic fluid composition exhibiting excellent antiwear, lubricity and stability. |
| US08648020B2 |
Pressure process for overbased magnesium oxide dispersions
Overbased MgO dispersions with high magnesium content and acceptably low viscosities are prepared without gel formation by heating to 280-360° C. under high pressure in a sealed reactor a mixture of MgO, selected dispersants, low MW carboxylic acids, water and a hydrocarbon solvent having a boiling point below 280° C. No additional solubilizing or dispersing agents, promoters or reactants such as carbon dioxide, amines, alcohols etc are needed to obtain the desired dispersions. Compositions such as lubricating oils and fuels containing the overbased magnesium dispersions as additives are also disclosed. |
| US08648019B2 |
Materials as additives for advanced lubrication
This invention relates to carbon-based materials as anti-friction and anti-wear additives for advanced lubrication purposes. The materials have various shapes, sizes, and structures and are synthesized by autogenic reactions under extreme conditions of high temperature and pressure. The lubricant compositions comprise carbon-based particles suspended in a liquid hydrocarbon carrier. Optionally, the compositions further comprise a surfactant (e.g., to aid in dispersion of the carbon particles). Specifically, the novel lubricants have the ability to significantly lower friction and wear, which translates into improved fuel economies and longer durability of mechanical devices and engines. |
| US08648015B2 |
Systematic evaluation of sequence and activity relationships using site evaluation libraries for engineering multiple properties
The present invention provides methods for protein engineering. Specifically, the invention provides methods utilizing site evaluation libraries to design libraries that optimize two or more properties of a protein. |
| US08648012B2 |
Herbicidal compositions comprising naptalam
The present invention relates to herbicidal compositions comprising a) a herbicide compound A which is selected from Λ/-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (naptalam), the salts and esters thereof; and b) a herbicide compound B which is selected from b.1 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid (dicamba), the salts and esters thereof; b.2 quinolinecarboxylic acid herbicides; b.3 pyridinecarboxylic acid herbicides; and b.4 aminocyclopyrachlor, the salts and esters thereof. The present invention also relates to the use of these compositions for controlling undesirable vegetation, in particular in crops, in turf or pasture, in rangeland, in fallow, or in forestry. |
| US08648006B2 |
Electroless plating in microchannels
Novel methods of electroless plating are described. Catalyst coatings can be applied within microchannel apparatus. Various reactions, including combustion and steam reforming, can be conducted over electroless catalyst coatings. |
| US08648002B2 |
Process for making and using metal organic frameworks based on aluminum, iron and chromium
The present invention relates to a porous metal organic framework comprising a bidentate organic compound coordinated to a metal ion selected from the group of metals consisting of Al, Fe and Cr, with the bidentate organic compound being derived from a dicarboxylic acid, wherein the framework has a structure whose projection along [001] has a pattern in which each side of a hexagon is bounded by a triangle. The present invention further relates to shaped bodies and a process for preparing the porous metal organic framework and its use. |
| US08648000B2 |
Diene polymerisation
Process for producing homopolymers or copolymers of conjugated dienes by contacting monomeric material including at least one conjugated diene with a catalyst system comprising (A) a first transition metal compound selected from Cr, Mo and W compounds, and a second transition metal compound selected from Fe, Co and Ni compounds, (B) a catalyst modifier and, optionally, (C) one or more catalyst activators. |
| US08647999B2 |
Method for regenerating a catalyst containing a CHA zeolite
A method for manufacturing a catalyst, which comprises regenerating a catalyst comprising a CHA zeolite as an active ingredient and having an ethylene conversion lowered through reaction of producing propylene by bringing into contact with ethylene in a vapor phase, by bringing the catalyst into contact with a gas which does not comprise oxygen and comprises hydrogen having a hydrogen partial pressure of 0.01 MPa or more as an absolute pressure thereof. |
| US08647996B2 |
Optical glass, preform for precision press molding, optical element, methods for manufacturing the same, and image pickup device
The present invention relates to an optical glass, a preform for precision press molding, methods for manufacturing the same, and an image pickup device. The optical glass of the present invention not only has a high refractive index, a high dispersion property, and good precision press moldability, but also has good stability with respect to devitrification when reheated (referred to as “devitrification stability upon reheating”), and is an optical glass with a good partial dispersion ratio (Pg, F). |
| US08647994B2 |
Optical glass, glass material for press-molding, and optical glass element
An optical glass having ultrahigh refractive index and high dispersion characteristics in the form of a refractive index nd exceeding 2.05 and an Abbe number vd of 18.5 or lower and of permitting the stable production of high-quality glass from a glass melt; and a glass material for press molding and an optical element comprised of the optical glass. The optical glass is in the form of an oxide glass and comprises, denoted as cationic percentages: 16 to 35% of P5+, 14 to 35% of Bi3+, 10 to 33% of Nb5+, 0 to 18% of Ti4+, and 0 to 20% of W6+; the total content of Bi3+, Nb5+, Ti4+, and W6+ being 55% or higher; the refractive index and exceeding 2.05; and the Abbe number vd being 18.5 or lower. |
| US08647993B2 |
Methods for UV-assisted conformal film deposition
Described are methods of making silicon nitride (SiN) materials and other silicon-containing films, including carbon-containing and/or oxygen-containing films such as SiCN (also referred to as SiNC), SiON and SiONC films, on substrates. According to various embodiments, the methods involve electromagnetic radiation-assisted activation of one or more reactants. In certain embodiments, for example, the methods involve ultraviolet (UV) activation of vapor phase amine coreactants. The methods can be used to deposit silicon-containing films, including SiN and SiCN films, at temperatures below about 400° C. |
| US08647992B2 |
Flowable dielectric using oxide liner
Methods of forming silicon oxide layers are described. The methods include mixing a carbon-free silicon-containing precursor with a radical-nitrogen precursor, and depositing a silicon-and-nitrogen-containing layer on a substrate. The radical-nitrogen precursor is formed in a plasma by flowing a hydrogen-and-nitrogen-containing precursor into the plasma. Prior to depositing the silicon-and-nitrogen-containing layer, a silicon oxide liner layer is formed to improve adhesion, smoothness and flowability of the silicon-and-nitrogen-containing layer. The silicon-and-nitrogen-containing layer may be converted to a silicon-and-oxygen-containing layer by curing and annealing the film. Methods also include forming a silicon oxide liner layer before applying a spin-on silicon-containing material. |
| US08647991B1 |
Method for forming dual damascene opening
A method for forming a dual damascene opening includes the following steps. Firstly, a first hard mask layer with a trench pattern is formed over a material layer. Then, a dielectric layer is formed over the first hard mask layer and filled into an opening of the trench pattern. Then, a second hard mask layer with a via opening pattern is formed over the first hard mask layer and the dielectric layer. Then, a first etching process is performed, so that a via opening is at least formed in the dielectric layer. After the second hard mask layer is removed, a second etching process is performed. Consequently, a trench opening is formed in the material layer and the via opening is further extended into the material layer, wherein the via opening is located within the trench opening. |
| US08647988B2 |
Memory device and method of fabricating the same
A memory device includes a mesa structure and a word line. The mesa structure, having two opposite side surfaces, includes at least one pair of source/drain regions and at least one channel base region corresponding to the pair of source/drain regions formed therein. The word line includes two linear sections and at least one interconnecting portion. Each linear section extends on the respective side surface of the mesa structure, adjacent to the channel base region. The at least one interconnecting portion penetrates through the mesa structure, connecting the two linear sections. |
| US08647986B2 |
Semiconductor process
A semiconductor process includes the following steps. A first gate structure and a second gate structure are formed on a substrate, wherein the top of the first gate structure includes a cap layer, so that the vertical height of the first gate structure is higher than the vertical height of the second gate structure. An interdielectric layer is formed on the substrate. A first chemical mechanical polishing process is performed to expose the top surface of the cap layer. A second chemical mechanical polishing process is performed to expose the top surface of the second gate structure or an etching process is performed to remove the interdielectric layer located on the second gate structure. A second chemical mechanical polishing process is then performed to remove the cap layer. |
| US08647983B2 |
Simplified copper-copper bonding
A method for bonding a first copper element onto a second copper element including forming a crystalline copper layer enriched in oxygen on each of surfaces of each of the first and second elements through which the elements will be in contact, the total thickness of both layers being less than 6 nm, which includes: a) polishing the surfaces so as to obtain a roughness of less than 1 nm RMS, and hydrophilic surfaces, b) cleaning the surfaces to suppress presence of particles due to the polishing and the major portion of corrosion inhibitors, and c) putting both crystalline copper layer enriched in oxygen in contact with each other. |
| US08647980B2 |
Method of forming wiring and method of manufacturing semiconductor substrates
Disclosed is a method of forming wiring. The method includes the steps of: depositing a metal thin film (12) of copper (Cu) on a glass substrate (11) serving as a base; forming an insulating film or a metal insulating film (131) containing no Cu on the metal thin film (12); patterning a photoresist (14) by photolithography on the insulating film (131); etching a liner film (13) by isotropic dry etching using the photoresist (14) as an etching mask; and after the etching of the liner film (13), removing the photoresist (14), and then removing part of the metal thin film (12) by isotropic wet etching using the liner film (13) as an etching mask, thereby forming metal wiring (12a). |
| US08647977B2 |
Methods of forming interconnects
Some embodiments include methods of forming interconnects. A first circuitry level may be formed, and a first dielectric region may be formed over such first level. A second level of circuitry may be formed over the first dielectric region. An interconnect may be formed to extend through such second level. A second dielectric region may be formed over the second level of circuitry, and a third level of circuitry may be formed over the second dielectric region. The third level of circuitry may be electrically connected to the first level of circuitry through the interconnect. Some embodiments include constructions having interconnects extending from a first level of circuitry, through an opening in a second level of circuitry, and to a third level of circuitry; with an individual interconnect including multiple separate electrically conductive posts. |
| US08647974B2 |
Method of fabricating a semiconductor chip with supportive terminal pad
Various semiconductor chip input/output structures and methods of making the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes providing a semiconductor chip that has a first conductor pad and a passivation structure. A second conductor pad is fabricated around but not in physical contact with the first conductor pad to leave a gap. The second conductor pad is adapted to protect a portion of the passivation structure. |
| US08647973B2 |
Semiconductor device capable of reducing electrical defects and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same reduce the likelihood of the occurrence of electrical defects. The device includes a first interlayer insulating film on a semiconductor substrate; a contact pad spacer on the first interlayer insulating film; and a contact pad in the first interlayer insulating film and the contact pad spacer. The cross-sectional area of an upper portion of the contact pad in the contact pad spacer in a direction horizontal to the substrate is equal to or less than a cross-sectional area of an intermediate portion at an interface between the contact pad spacer and the first interlayer insulating film in a direction horizontal to the substrate. |
| US08647968B2 |
Method for producing a semiconductor layer
A method for producing a semiconductor layer is disclosed. One embodiment provides for a semiconductor layer on a semiconductor substrate containing oxygen. Crystal defects are produced at least in a near-surface region of the semiconductor substrate. A thermal process is carried out wherein the oxygen is taken up at the crystal defects. The semiconductor layer is deposited epitaxially over the near-surface region of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08647966B2 |
Method and apparatus for dicing die attach film on a semiconductor wafer
In one aspect of the present invention, a method of sawing a semiconductor wafer will be described. A semiconductor wafer is positioned in a wafer sawing apparatus that includes a sawing blade and a movable support structure that physically supports the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer is coupled with the support structure with various layers, including a die attach film, an adhesive and a base film. The die attach film is cut with the sawing blade. During the cutting operation, a contact portion of the sawing blade engages one of the layers and moves at least partly in one direction. While the contact portion of the sawing blade engages the layer, the support structure moves in the opposite direction. Various aspects of the present invention relate to arrangements and a wafer sawing apparatus that involve the aforementioned sawing method. |
| US08647965B2 |
Radiographic image detector, method of producing the same, and protective member
A method of producing a radiographic image detector includes: preparing a thin-film transistor substrate comprising an insulating substrate and a thin-film transistor that is disposed on a surface of the insulating substrate at a first side; attaching, to the thin-film transistor substrate, a protective member comprising a protective member support and an adhesive layer that includes conductive particles and that is disposed on the protective member support, such that the adhesive layer and a surface of the thin-film transistor substrate at the first side contact each other; polishing a surface of the thin-film transistor substrate at a second side opposite to the first side, after the attaching of the protective member; separating and removing the protective member from the thin-film transistor substrate after the polishing; and providing a scintillator layer on a surface of the thin-film transistor substrate at the first side, after the removing of the protective member. |
| US08647960B2 |
Anneal to minimize leakage current in DRAM capacitor
A method for forming a DRAM MIM capacitor stack comprises forming a first electrode layer, annealing the first electrode layer, forming a dielectric layer on the first electrode layer, annealing the dielectric layer, forming a second electrode layer on the dielectric layer, annealing the second electrode layer, patterning the capacitor stack, and annealing the capacitor stack for times greater than about 10 minutes, and advantageously greater than about 1 hour, at low temperatures (less than about 300 C) in an atmosphere containing less than about 25% oxygen and preferably less than about 10% oxygen. |
| US08647958B2 |
Method for fabricating semiconductor device having expanded critical dimension by performining surface treatment
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming an isolation layer over a substrate, forming a plurality of open regions exposing the substrate by selectively etching the isolation layer, performing a surface treatment over the isolation layer, expanding the open regions by removing the surface-treated portion of the isolation layer, and forming a conductive layer in the expanded open regions. |
| US08647956B2 |
Dicing tape-integrated film for semiconductor back surface, and process for producing semiconductor device
The present invention relates to a dicing tape-integrated film for semiconductor back surface, which includes: a dicing tape including a base material layer, a first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and a second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer stacked in this order, and a film for semiconductor back surface stacked on the second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the dicing tape, in which a peel strength Y between the first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and the second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is larger than a peel strength X between the second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and the film for semiconductor back surface, and in which the peel strength X is from 0.01 to 0.2 N/20 mm, and the peel strength Y is from 0.2 to 10 N/20 mm. |
| US08647954B2 |
Two-step silicide formation
One embodiment of the present invention comprises a transistor having a source/drain region within a substrate, an extension region within the substrate adjoining the source/drain region and extending toward a gate on the substrate, and a dielectric spacer against the gate wherein the dielectric spacer covers at least part of the extension region. A silicide intermix layer is formed over both the source/drain region and a portion of the extension region. A silicide contact is formed through the silicide intermix layer over the source/drain region. |
| US08647952B2 |
Encapsulation of closely spaced gate electrode structures
Generally, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to sophisticated semiconductor devices and methods for forming the same, wherein the pitch between adjacent gate electrodes is aggressively scaled, and wherein self-aligning contact elements may be utilized to avoid the high electrical resistance levels commonly associated with narrow contact elements formed using typically available photolithography techniques. One illustrative embodiment includes forming first and second gate electrode structures above a semiconductor substrate, then forming a first layer of a first dielectric material adjacent to or in contact with the sidewalls of each of the first and second gate electrode structures. The illustrative method further includes a step of forming a second layer of a second dielectric material on the first layer, followed by forming a third layer of a third dielectric material on the second layer, wherein forming the third layer further comprises forming a first horizontal portion of the third layer above a surface of the semiconductor substrate between the first and second gate electrode structures. |
| US08647951B2 |
Implantation of hydrogen to improve gate insulation layer-substrate interface
Generally, the present disclosure is directed to various methods of making a semiconductor device by implanting hydrogen or hydrogen-containing clusters to improve the interface between a gate insulation layer and the substrate. One illustrative method disclosed herein involves forming a gate insulation layer on a substrate, forming a layer of gate electrode material above the gate insulation material and performing an ion implantation process with a material comprising hydrogen or a hydrogen-containing compound to introduce the hydrogen or hydrogen-containing compound proximate an interface between the gate insulation layer and said substrate with a concentration of the implanted hydrogen or hydrogen-containing compound being at least 1e10 ions/cm2. |
| US08647949B2 |
Structure and method of fabricating a transistor having a trench gate
An integrated circuit transistor is fabricated with a trench gate having nonconductive sidewalls. The transistor is surrounded by an isolation trench filled with a nonconductive material. The sidewalls of the gate trench are formed of the nonconductive material and are substantially free of unetched substrate material. As a result, the sidewalls of the gate trench do not form an undesired conductive path between the source and the drain of the transistor, thereby advantageously reducing the amount of parasitic current that flows between the source and drain during operation. |
| US08647948B2 |
Method of manufacturing vertical planar power MOSFET and method of manufacturing trench-gate power MOSFET
In the manufacturing steps of a super-junction power MOSFET having a drift region having a super junction structure, after the super junction structure is formed, introduction of a body region and the like and heat treatment related thereto are typically performed. However, in the process thereof, a dopant in each of P-type column regions and the like included in the super junction structure is diffused to result in a scattered dopant profile. This causes problems such as degradation of a breakdown voltage when a reverse bias voltage is applied between a drain and a source and an increase in ON resistance. According to the present invention, in a method of manufacturing a silicon-based vertical planar power MOSFET, a body region forming a channel region is formed by selective epitaxial growth. |
| US08647946B2 |
Control gate
A method for forming a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate prepared with a second gate structure. An inter-gate dielectric is formed on the substrate and over the second gate. A first gate is also formed. The first gate is adjacent to and separated from the second gate by the inter-gate dielectric. The substrate is patterned to form a split gate structure with the first and second adjacent gates. The split gate structure is provided with an e-field equalizer adjacent to the first gate. The e-field equalizer improves uniformity of e-field across the first gate during operation. |
| US08647945B2 |
Method of forming substrate contact for semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate
A semiconductor structure is provided that includes a material stack including an epitaxially grown semiconductor layer on a base semiconductor layer, a dielectric layer on the epitaxially grown semiconductor layer, and an upper semiconductor layer present on the dielectric layer. A capacitor is present extending from the upper semiconductor layer through the dielectric layer into contact with the epitaxially grown semiconductor layer. The capacitor includes a node dielectric present on the sidewalls of the trench and an upper electrode filling at least a portion of the trench. A substrate contact is present in a contact trench extending from the upper semiconductor layer through the dielectric layer and the epitaxially semiconductor layer to a doped region of the base semiconductor layer. A substrate contact is also provided that contacts the base semiconductor layer through the sidewall of a trench. Methods for forming the above-described structures are also provided. |
| US08647943B2 |
Enhanced non-noble electrode layers for DRAM capacitor cell
A metal oxide first electrode material for a MIM DRAM capacitor is formed wherein the first and/or second electrode materials or structures contain layers having one or more dopants up to a total doping concentration that will not prevent the electrode materials from crystallizing during a subsequent anneal step. Advantageously, the electrode doped with one or more of the dopants has a work function greater than about 5.0 eV. Advantageously, the electrode doped with one or more of the dopants has a resistivity less than about 1000 μΩ cm. Advantageously, the electrode materials are conductive molybdenum oxide. |
| US08647942B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
An object of the invention is to reduce an area occupied by a capacitor in a circuit in a semiconductor device, and to downsize a semiconductor device on which the capacitor and an organic memory are mounted. The organic memory and the capacitor, included in a peripheral circuit, in which the same material as the layer containing the organic compound used for the organic memory is used as a dielectric, are used. The peripheral circuit here means a circuit having at least a capacitor such as a resonance circuit, a power supply circuit, a boosting circuit, a DA converter, or a protective circuit. Further, a capacitor in which a semiconductor is used as a dielectric may be provided over the same substrate as well as the capacitor in which the same material as the layer containing the organic compound is used as a dielectric. In this case, it is desirable that the capacitor in which the same material as the layer containing the organic compound is used as a dielectric and the capacitor in which the semiconductor is used as a dielectric are connected to each other in parallel. |
| US08647939B2 |
Non-relaxed embedded stressors with solid source extension regions in CMOS devices
A method of forming a field effect transistor (FET) device includes forming a patterned gate structure over a substrate; forming a solid source dopant material on the substrate, adjacent sidewall spacers of the gate structure; performing an anneal process at a temperature sufficient to cause dopants from the solid source dopant material to diffuse within the substrate beneath the gate structure and form source/drain extension regions; following formation of the source/drain extension regions, forming trenches in the substrate adjacent the sidewall spacers, corresponding to source/drain regions; and forming an embedded semiconductor material in the trenches so as to provide a stress on a channel region of the substrate defined beneath the gate structure. |
| US08647936B2 |
Junction field effect transistor with an epitaxially grown gate structure
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes forming a replacement gate structure on a portion of a semiconductor substrate, wherein source regions and drain regions are formed in opposing sides of the replacement gate structure. A dielectric is formed on the semiconductor substrate having an upper surface that is coplanar with an upper surface of the replacement gate structure. The replacement gate structure is removed to provide an opening to an exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate. A functional gate conductor is epitaxially grown within the opening in direct contact with the exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate. The method is applicable to planar metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) and fin field effect transistors (finFETs). |
| US08647935B2 |
Buried oxidation for enhanced mobility
A method patterns at least one pair of openings through a protective layer and into a substrate. The openings are positioned on opposite sides of a channel region of the substrate. The method forms sidewall spacers along the sidewalls of the openings and removes additional substrate material from the bottom of the openings. The material removal process creates an extended bottom within the openings. The method forms a first strain producing material within the extended bottom of the openings. The method removes the sidewall spacers and forms a second material within the remainder of the openings between the first strain producing material and the top of the openings. The method removes the protective layer and forms a gate dielectric and a gate conductor on the horizontal surface on the substrate adjacent the channel region. The second material comprises source and drain regions. |
| US08647931B2 |
Manufacturing method for display device having a plurality of thin film transistors and display device formed thereby
A manufacturing method of a thin film transistor includes: forming semiconductor layers for a plurality of thin film transistors over a substrate; forming an insulating layer covering the semiconductor layers; and forming a metal layer over the insulating layer. The method further includes: patterning the metal layer to form mask patterns; doping first ions using a first mask pattern among the mask patterns into a first semiconductor layer among the semiconductor layers to simultaneously form source region/a drain regions and an active region of the first thin film transistor; and doping second ions using a second mask pattern among the mask patterns into a second semiconductor layer among the semiconductor layers to form a source region and a drain region of the second thin film transistor. |
| US08647929B2 |
Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing thereof
Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing thereof are disclosed. A preferred embodiment includes a semiconductor device comprising a workpiece, the workpiece including a first region and a second region proximate the first region. A first material is disposed in the first region, and at least one region of a second material is disposed within the first material in the first region, the second material comprising a different material than the first material. The at least one region of the second material increases a first stress of the first region. |
| US08647927B2 |
Microwave circuit package
A microwave circuit package having a ball grid array, BGA, soldered on to a planar major surface of a metal housing of the package for the electrical connection of the ports of the microwave circuit through RF signal paths to an adjacent electrical device. Each of the RF signal paths comprises a pin electrically connected to a respective port of the microwave circuit package, projecting normally through an opening in the said major surface from which it is electrically insulated, and soldered to a ball of the BGA; the pin and the surrounding balls of the BGA, which are soldered to the metal housing, constituting a coaxial RF signal path. |
| US08647922B2 |
Method of forming an interconnect on a semiconductor substrate
The present invention relates to a method of forming a wire bond-free conductive interconnect area on a semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor substrate with an electrically conductive protrusion, defining a bond pad, is provided as well as a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The plurality of carbon nanotubes is immobilized on the bond pad by allowing at least one random portion along the length of the carbon nanotubes to attach to the surface of the bond pad. Thus an aggregate of loops of carbon nanotubes is formed on the surface of the bond pad. Thereby a conductive interconnect area is formed on the electrically conductive protrusion without heat treatment. |
| US08647918B2 |
Formation of graphene on a surface
Methods of forming a graphene material on a surface are presented. A metal material is disposed on a material substrate or material layer and is infused with carbon, for example, by exposing the metal to a carbon-containing vapor. The carbon-containing metal material is annealed to cause graphene to precipitate onto the bottom of the metal material to form a graphene layer between the metal material and the material substrate/material layer and also onto the top and/or sides of the metal material. Graphene material is removed from the top and sides of the metal material and then the metal material is removed, leaving only the graphene layer that was formed on the bottom of the metal material. In some cases graphene material that formed on one or more side of the sides of the metal material is not removed so that a vertical graphene material layer is formed. |
| US08647916B2 |
Method for manufacturing solar cell using a single target
Methods for manufacturing a solar cell are provided. The method may include forming a lower electrode on a substrate, forming a light absorption layer on the lower electrode, forming a buffer layer on the light absorption layer, and forming a window layer on the buffer layer. The window layer may include an intrinsic layer and the transparent electrode which have electric characteristics different from each other, respectively. The intrinsic layer and the transparent electrode may be formed by a sputtering process using a single target formed of metal oxide doped with impurities. |
| US08647913B2 |
Image sensor, method and design structure including non-planar reflector
A solid state image sensor, a method for fabricating the solid state image sensor and a design structure for fabricating the solid state image sensor structure include a substrate that in turn includes a photosensitive region. Also included within solid state image sensor is a non-planar reflector layer located over a side of the photosensitive region and the substrate opposite an incoming radiation side of the photosensitive region and the substrate. The non-planar reflector layer is shaped and positioned to reflect uncaptured incident radiation back into the photosensitive region while avoiding optical cross-talk with an additional photosensitive region laterally separated within the substrate. |
| US08647911B2 |
Backside contact solar cell with formed polysilicon doped regions
A solar cell includes abutting P-type and N-type doped regions in a contiguous portion of a polysilicon layer. The polysilicon layer may be formed on a thin dielectric layer, which is formed on a backside of a solar cell substrate (e.g., silicon wafer). The polysilicon layer has a relatively large average grain size to reduce or eliminate recombination in a space charge region between the P-type and N-type doped regions, thereby increasing efficiency. |
| US08647909B2 |
Array of alpha particle sensors
An array of radiation sensors or detectors is integrated within a three-dimensional semiconductor IC. The sensor array is located relatively close to the device layer of a circuit (e.g., a microprocessor) to be protected from the adverse effects of the ionizing radiation particles. As such, the location where the radiation particles intersect the device layer can be calculated with coarse precision (e.g., to within 10 s of microns). |
| US08647908B2 |
Semiconductor pressure sensor and method of manufacturing semiconductor pressure sensor
A semiconductor pressure sensor includes a first substrate having a concave portion and an alignment mark at a main surface thereof, and a second substrate formed on the main surface of the first substrate and having a diaphragm provided to cover a space inside the concave portion of the first substrate and a gauge resistor provided on the diaphragm. The alignment mark is provided to be exposed from the second substrate. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain a semiconductor pressure sensor and a method of manufacturing the same with reduced production costs and with improved pressure measuring accuracy. |
| US08647899B2 |
Organic light emitting device and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention relates to an organic light emitting device and a manufacturing method thereof. A manufacturing method of an organic light emitting device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes forming a thin film structure on a first substrate, forming a dehumidification buffer layer on a second substrate, combining the first substrate and the second substrate, and heat treating the dehumidification buffer layer to soften the dehumidification buffer layer. |
| US08647896B2 |
Process for producing a substrate for a liquid ejection head
Provided is a process for producing a substrate for a liquid ejection head, including forming a liquid supply port in a silicon substrate, the process including the steps of (a) forming an etch stop layer at a portion of a front surface of the silicon substrate at which portion the liquid supply port is to be formed; (b) performing dry etching using a Bosch process from a rear surface side of the silicon substrate up to the etch stop layer with use of an etching mask formed on a rear surface of the silicon substrate to thereby form the liquid supply port; and (c) simultaneously removing the etch stop layer and a deposition film formed inside the liquid supply port. |
| US08647891B2 |
Two-axis magnetic field sensor having reduced compensation angle for zero offset
A sensor and fabrication process are provided for forming reference layers with substantially orthogonal magnetization directions having zero offset with a small compensation angle. An exemplary embodiment includes a sensor layer stack of a magnetoresistive thin-film based magnetic field sensor, the sensor layer stack comprising a pinning layer; a pinned layer including a layer of amorphous material over the pinning layer, and a first layer of crystalline material over the layer of amorphous material; a nonmagnetic coupling layer over the pinned layer; a fixed layer over the nonmagnetic coupling layer; a tunnel barrier over the fixed layer; and a sense layer over the nonmagnetic intermediate layer. Another embodiment includes a sensor layer stack where a pinned layer including two crystalline layers separated by a amorphous layer. |
| US08647888B2 |
Immunoassay test strip for use in a diagnostic system
An immunoassay test strip includes a sample pad for receiving a liquid patient sample; a conjugate pad fluidly coupled to the sample pad, wherein the conjugate pad contains a substantially uniform application of conjugate reagent; a contact pad fluidly coupled to the conjugate pad; a porous or bibulous member, e.g., made from nitrocellulose, fluidly coupled to the contact pad which is capable or transporting a liquid sample along the test strip, wherein the porous or bibulous member serves as the solid support upon which immunoreactions occur, and an absorbent pad fluidly coupled to the porous or bibulous member, which serves to draw sample fluid introduced onto the sample pad through the respective conjugate pad, contact pad and porous or bibulous member. |
| US08647885B2 |
Process for detecting gaseous halogenated compounds
Process for detecting a gaseous compound of BX3, HX or X2 type within a gas using a composition containing a probe molecule, characterized in that the probe molecule is a molecule for which the reaction with one or more compounds of BX3, HX or X2 type leads to a variation of at least one of its physicochemical properties, this variation being measurable via a suitable analysis technique, and in that the following steps are carried out in this order: (a) measurement of said physicochemical property of the probe molecule, such as a spectral property, (b) bringing the gas into contact with the composition containing the probe molecule from step (a), (c) repeat measurement of said physicochemical property, (d) correlation of the variation of said spectral property between steps (a) and (c) in the presence of said gaseous compound of BX3, HX or X2 type, the measurement of the physicochemical property from step (a) possibly being a prior step, process for trapping gaseous compounds of BX3, HX or X2 type contained in a gas, material capable of reacting with at least one compound of BX3, HX or X2 type in gaseous form and sensor for compounds of BX3, HX or X2 type. |
| US08647882B2 |
Chiral selectors and stationary phases for separating enantiomer mixtures
Chiral selectors having α-unsubstituted β-amino acid derivatives of the structure: a stationary phase for separating substance mixtures containing the chiral selector, and processes for separating mixtures of chiral substances, including enantiomers, and especially enantiomers of substances selected from β-amino acids and derivatives thereof, α-amino acids and α-hydroxy acids are provided. |
| US08647878B2 |
Highly refractive immersion liquids and their use
The invention relates to an immersion liquid including at least one compound of the general formula I in which R1 and R2 each include at least one ring structure and X denotes: O, S, NR3 with R3 selected from hydrogen or hydrocarbon, wherein Y denotes independently of each other O, S or NR4 with R4 selected from hydrogen or hydrocarbon. In addition, the invention relates to a further immersion liquid, a compound for an immersion liquid and a use of the immersion liquids or of the compound as an immersion oil for a microscope, in particular for a near-field microscope. |
| US08647877B2 |
Preparation and use of nucleated red blood cell simulating particles and hematology control mixtures
The present disclosure provides a nucleated red blood cell simulating particle, which may be leukocytes bound to a fluorescent-staining inhibitor capable of stably binding to the nucleus or a nucleic acid in a cell so as to reduce the binding capacity of the particles to a fluorescent dye during their detection. The present disclosure also provides a method for preparing nucleated red blood cell simulating particles, including the following steps: (a) obtaining purified leukocytes; (b) suspending the leukocytes in a cell treatment solution containing a fluorescent-staining inhibitor which stably binds to the nucleus or a nucleic acid in a cell, and (c) washing the obtained product. The present disclosure also provides a hematology control mixture containing the nucleated red blood cell simulating particles. In addition, the present disclosure describes the use of the nucleated red blood cell simulating particles and the hematology control mixtures comprising the same, for the quality control of a blood cell analyzer. |
| US08647876B2 |
Oxygen permeability measuring apparatus and method, and defect inspection apparatus and method
An oxygen permeability measuring apparatus for measuring an oxygen permeation rate of oxygen barrier film in a dark room is provided. A container is charged with inert gas, and sealed hermetically by use of the oxygen barrier film at least partially. A chemiluminescent compound is contained in the container, for emitting light by oxidation with the oxygen. A photon detector detects photons emitted by the chemiluminescent compound so as to determine an amount of the oxygen permeated through the oxygen barrier film. Preferably, the container includes a container body. An opening is formed in the container body, and closed hermetically by the oxygen barrier film attached thereto. The photon detector is disposed inside or outside the container. The oxygen permeation rate is equal to or less than 10−2 cc/m2·day·atm. The chemiluminescent compound includes tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene. |
| US08647875B2 |
Enzymes involved in triterpene synthesis
This invention relates to isolated polynucleotides encoding a CYP51H. The invention also relates to the construction of recombinant DNA constructs comprising all or a portion of the isolated polynucleotide of the invention, in sense or antisense orientation, operably linked to at least one regulatory sequence. |
| US08647872B2 |
Human embryonic stem cell line prepared by nuclear transfer of a human somatic cell into an enucleated human oocyte
An embryonic stem cell line derived from a nucleus-transferred oocyte prepared by transferring a nucleus of a human somatic cell into an enucleated human oocyte may differentiate into various desired cell types. |
| US08647868B2 |
Compositions and methods for increasing production of recombinant gamma-carboxylated proteins
Methods and cell lines for overexpressing functional gamma-carboxylated proteins are disclosed by way of genetically engineered cell lines which over-express VKORC1. Also disclosed is the antisense inhibition of expression of calumenin in conjunction with overexpression of VKORC1 which also increases expression of functional gamma-carboxylated proteins. Gamma-carboxylated proteins of interest may include blood coagulation factors such as human clotting factors IX and VII. |
| US08647866B2 |
ZCYTOR17 heterodimeric cytokine receptor polynucleotides
Novel polypeptide combinations, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and related compositions and methods are disclosed for zcytor17-containing multimeric or heterodimer cytokine receptors that may be used as novel cytokine antagonists, and within methods for detecting ligands that stimulate the proliferation and/or development of hematopoietic, lymphoid and myeloid cells in vitro and in vivo. The present invention also includes methods for producing the multimeric or heterodimeric cytokine receptor, uses therefor and antibodies thereto. |
| US08647863B2 |
Minicircle vector production
A plasmid is provided comprising the following functional units: a prokaryotic origin of replication, a marker sequence, two specific recombinase recognition sequences and a multiple cloning site, whereby it comprises a gene coding for a sequence specific recombinase, whereby the units are arranged on the plasmid in such a way that the plasmid is divided into a miniplasmid and a minicircle upon expression of the sequence specific recombinase, said miniplasmid comprising the prokaryotic origin of replication, the marker sequence and the gene for the sequence specific recombinase and said minicircle comprising the multiple cloning site. |
| US08647859B2 |
Apparatus and method for analyzing bacteria
An apparatus for analyzing bacteria is described that includes an analytic sample preparation section for preparing an analytic sample by treating a specimen so as to generate a morphological difference between Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria, a detector for detecting optical information from each particle contained in the analytic sample and an analyzing section for detecting Gram-positive bacteria contained on the basis of the detected optical information. A method for analyzing bacteria is also described. |
| US08647858B2 |
Automated system for the lysis of microorganisms present in a sample, for extraction and for purification of the nucleic acids of said microorganisms for purposes of analysis
The present invention relates to, among other things, a device for collecting airborne microorganisms, said device having: an air collecting module, comprising: i. an upper element having an air admission duct permitting entry of an air stream into said module, said duct being provided, at its base, with means for disturbance of the air stream, ii. a lower element having air evacuating means permitting the air stream created to exit and said upper and lower elements can be made integral with one another so that the air stream can be created within said air collecting module; a cartridge, of roughly cylindrical shape, having a microorganism retention zone, said retention zone having means for lysis of the microorganisms, said cartridge being positioned within said air collecting module. |
| US08647855B2 |
Genetically engineered yeast for the production of biofuels
Compositions and methods are provided for generating biofuels by fermentation from carbon sources other than glucose using genetically engineered yeast strains. For example, a Saccharomyces strain which is capable of converting glucose to ethanol but not of metabolizing N-acetyl glucosamine is genetically engineered to utilize N-acetyl glucosamine as a nutrient carbon source. |
| US08647853B2 |
Foam microreactor for multi-phase shear-sensitive reactions
The present invention relates to a method for controlling multi-phase chemical reactions using the architecture of surfactant foams to control mass transport of chemical reactants, catalysts, and products and the kinetics with which they react. More specifically, the invention relates to transformations that require both gaseous and liquid components with dissolved or suspended catalysts that are unstable when sheared. |
| US08647852B2 |
Method of stimulating ethanol production and growth of aquatic plants
A method of stimulating ethanol production and growth of aquatic plants includes the steps of placing aquatic plants in a cell containing water and creating an oxygenated condition within the cell to initiate an aerobic process. The aquatic plants create and store carbohydrates during the aerobic process. The cell is then covered with a light blocking cover during the anoxic condition to inhibit light from entering the cell. An anoxic condition is created within the cell to initiate an anaerobic process by the aquatic plants. The aquatic plants increase in size and release ethanol into the water by metabolism of stored carbohydrates during the anaerobic process. The ethanol is then sequestered from the water. |
| US08647851B2 |
Methods for increasing the production of ethanol from microbial fermentation
A stable continuous method for producing ethanol from the anaerobic bacterial fermentation of a gaseous substrate containing at least one reducing gas involves culturing in a fermentation bioreactor anaerobic, acetogenic bacteria in a liquid nutrient medium; supplying the gaseous substrate to the bioreactor; and manipulating the bacteria in the bioreactor by reducing the redox potential, or increasing the NAD(P)H TO NAD(P) ratio, in the fermentation broth after the bacteria achieves a steady state and stable cell concentration in the bioreactor. The free acetic acid concentration in the bioreactor is maintained at less than 5 g/L free acid. This method allows ethanol to be produced in the fermentation broth in the bioreactor at a productivity of greater than 10 g/L per day. Both ethanol and acetate are produced in a ratio of ethanol to acetate ranging from 1:1 to 20:1. |
| US08647849B2 |
Biodiesel production method
The present invention relates to a process for obtaining a mixture of fatty acid esters, suitable as a combustible or fuel in diesel cycle engines, comprising: a) the obtaining of a microbial biomass with a triglyceride content equal to or greater than 20% by dry weight, by means of the use of an oleaginous microorganism using glycerin as a carbon source; and b) the conversion of the triglycerides contained in the biomass obtained in step a) into a mixture of fatty acid esters. The invention likewise relates to said oleaginous microorganism, to a process for its selection and to polynucleotides obtained therefrom. |
| US08647847B2 |
L-cysteine-producing bacterium and a method for producing L-cysteine
An L-cysteine-producing bacterium is provided, as well as a method for producing L-cysteine etc. using the bacterium by developing a novel technique for improving L-cysteine-producing ability of a bacterium. By culturing a bacterium belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae, which has L-cysteine-producing ability and is modified so that activity of a protein encoded by the yciW gene, for example, a protein defined by the following (A) or (B), is reduced, in a medium, and collecting L-cysteine, L-cystine, a derivative thereof, or a mixture thereof from the medium, these compounds are produced: (A) a protein having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, (B) a protein having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, but which includes substitution, deletion, insertion, or addition of one or several amino acid residues, reduction of which activity in the bacterium results in improvement in the L-cysteine-producing ability. |
| US08647839B2 |
Method for production of glutathione or gamma-glutamylcysteine
The invention provides a process for producing glutathione or γ-glutamylcysteine by culturing in a medium a microorganism with a higher activity of a protein having an activity to transport intracellular glutathione to the outside of cells, and a higher activity of a protein involved in glutathione or γ-glutamylcysteine biosynthesis, compared with that of the parent strain, forming and accumulating glutathione or γ-glutamylcysteine in the medium, and recovering the glutathione or γ-glutamylcysteine from the culture. |
| US08647832B2 |
Methods for determining the risk of prenatal complications
The disclosure relates to methods, medical profiles, kits and apparatus for use in determining the risk that a pregnant individual has for developing pre-eclampsia based on amounts of certain biochemical markers in a biological sample from the individual and biophysical markers. The disclosure also relates to methods, medical profiles, kits and apparatus for use in determining the risk that a pregnant individual is carrying a fetus having a chromosomal abnormality based on amounts of certain biochemical markers in a biological sample from the individual and biophysical markers. |
| US08647828B2 |
Intracellular targeting of molecules via syndecan-4
The present invention provides methods for intracellular and/or nuclear targeting of an agent capable of specifically binding to syndecan-4. The present invention further provides methods for the modification of the intracellular and/or nuclear targeting of said agent, as well methods for identifying compounds capable of modifying the syndecan-4 delivery pathway. The present invention further provides experimental kits to perform the methods according to the invention. |
| US08647823B2 |
Polynucleotide synthesis on a modified surface
The present invention relates to a method for the synthesis of a polynucleotide on a modified surface of a substrate, wherein the modified surface is obtained by chemically modifying with macromolecules in which a plurality of termini of the branched region are bound to the surface and a terminus of the linear region is functionalized. |
| US08647820B2 |
Circular dumbbell decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (CDODN) containing DNA bindings sites of transcription
The present invention provides a circular dumbbell oligodeoxynucleotide (CDODN) comprising two loop structures and a stem structure, wherein the stem structure comprises a nucleotide sequence capable of binding the DNA-binding domain of a transcriptional factor. The present invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising said CDODN. The pharmaceutical composition can be used for treating and/or preventing a disease or disorder related to such a transcriptional factor. The present invention also provides a method for treating and/or preventing a disease or disorder related to such a transcriptional factor, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a CDODN comprising two loop structures and a stem structure, wherein the stem structure comprises a nucleotide sequence capable of binding the DNA-binding domain of the transcriptional factor. |
| US08647813B2 |
Photosensitive composition and photosensitive lithographic printing plate material
Disclosed are a photosensitive composition containing an aqueous dispersion and having excellent storage stability, and a photosensitive lithographic printing plate material using the photosensitive composition and being capable of being developed using water, which is advantageous not only in that the photosensitive lithographic printing plate material exhibits high sensitivity and high image quality as well as excellent storage stability, but also in that even when the printing plate material is repeatedly subjected to developing treatment using water, the generation of sludge derived from the photosensitive composition in the developer repeatedly used is suppressed, achieving excellent developing properties.A photosensitive composition containing at least an aqueous dispersion comprising an oil-in-water emulsion of a photopolymerization initiator and an oil-in-water emulsion of a compound having a polymerizable double bond group, at least one of the oil-in-water emulsion of the photopolymerization initiator and the oil-in-water emulsion of the compound having a polymerizable double bond group being an oil-in-water emulsion obtained by emulsifying and dispersing the photopolymerization initiator or the compound having a polymerizable double bond group in water in the presence of a water-soluble polymer having a sulfonate group and an anionic surfactant. |