| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08670076B2 |
Method and system for configuring an asymmetric link based on monitored messages
A networking device for multimedia applications including self-configurable asymmetric ports. The networking device is coupled to end-devices configured to use multimedia control messages to control their operation. The networking device monitors the multimedia control messages transmitted through it and sets the direction of at least one of the self-configurable asymmetric ports according to the monitored multimedia control messages. Also disclosed a wired switch supporting uncompressed video including self-configurable asymmetric ports. The switch is coupled to end-devices configured to use control messages to control their operation, and the switch is configured to: monitor the control messages transmitted through it, change at least some of the monitored control messages transmitted through it or create spoofed control messages, and automatically set the direction of at least one of the self-configurable asymmetric ports according to the monitored control messages. |
| US08670064B2 |
Image capturing apparatus and control method therefor
An image capturing apparatus capable of switching between an optical viewfinder and live view which involves periodically reading out an image signal out of an image sensor and sequentially displaying the image signal on a display unit, comprises a phase difference focus control unit that performs auto focus control using a phase difference detection method; a selection unit that selects one of a plurality of focus detection areas used for the auto focus control; an electronic zoom unit that changes an angle of view; and a control unit that causes the phase difference focus control unit to perform auto focus control by the phase difference detection method using the selected focus detection area if the selected focus detection area is located within the changed angle of view, otherwise not to perform auto focus control by the phase difference detection method using the selected focus detection area. |
| US08670062B2 |
Method for noise correction for a flat-panel detector
For noise correction in connection with a flat-panel x-ray detector, noise signals of a dark reference area are checked for deviations exceeding a specified threshold which, if any are present, will be taken into consideration separately for calculating the correction factor derived from the noise signal. Image artifacts due, for example, to high-contrast objects such as, for instance, cardiac pacemakers or metallic implants, in the x-ray image will be avoided through this measure. |
| US08670061B2 |
Photography device and display control method
There is provided a photography device including: a display control section; a guiding section; and a guiding control section that, in a state in which the optical image has been guided to the eyepiece portion and the electronic image and the composite image have not been guided to the eyepiece portion, if the photographing conditions are changed, carries out first control that controls the guiding section such that the composite image is guided to the eyepiece portion, and, if a predetermined time elapses after the first control or a predetermined operation is carried out by a user after the first control, carries out second control that controls the guiding section such that the optical image is guided to the eyepiece portion and the electronic image and the composite image are not guided to the eyepiece portion. |
| US08670058B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus, imaging system, and driving method of imaging apparatus
The present invention reduces differences in the influence of electric charge leakage from a non-read out region into multiple read out regions adjacent to a non-read out region. Reset scanning of that row in the non-read out region which adjoins the first or second read out region is started before read out scanning of the first and second read out regions. |
| US08670057B2 |
Image capturing device and image capturing method
An image capturing device includes a photodetector including a plurality of pixels, each having a photoelectric conversion unit outputting electric charges depending on received light, charge accumulation units accumulating the electric charges, and a drain electrode that discards the electric charges, a finite impulse response filter which is applied to images, a controller controlling the pixels so as to distribute the electric charges that are output by the photoelectric conversion units to the charge accumulation units and to the drain electrodes at a distribution ratio depending on a weight coefficient of a corresponding delay period of the finite impulse response filter at each delay period, and reading the electric charges accumulated in the charge accumulation units after a whole delay period of the finite impulse response filter elapses, and an image processor generating the images based on the electric charges that are read by the controller. |
| US08670052B2 |
Image sensor with dual element color filter array and three channel color output
A color image sensor includes a pixel array including a CFA overlaying an array of photo-sensors for acquiring a color image. The CFA includes first color filter elements of a first color overlaying a first group of the photo-sensors, second color filter elements of a second color overlaying a second group of the photo-sensors, and a plurality of filter stacks overlaying a third group of the photo-sensors. The first group generates first color signals of a first color channel and the second group generates second color signals of a second color channel. Each of the filter stacks includes a first stacked filter of the first color and a second stacked filter of the second color. A sensitivity of the filter stacks equals a product of sensitivities of the first and the second stacked filters and the filter stacks generate a third color channel. |
| US08670051B2 |
Solid-state image sensor and camera having improved sensitivity and color separation characteristics
A solid-state image sensor includes first-color pixels and second-color pixels, each of the first-color pixels including a first antireflection film and a first color filter, and each of the second-color pixels including a second antireflection film and a second color filter, wherein the solid-state image sensor satisfies T1(λ12)≦0.95·Tmax1, and T2(λ12)≦0.95·Tmax2 where λ1 represents a wavelength at which a transmittance of the first color filter is maximized, λ2 represents a wavelength at which a transmittance of the second color filter is maximized, and λ12 represents a central wavelength between wavelengths λ1 and λ2, T1(λ) and T2(λ) respectively represent transmittances of the first antireflection film and the second antireflection film when a wavelength is represented by λ, and Tmax1 and Tmax2 represent maximum values of the transmittances T1(λ) and T2(λ), respectively. |
| US08670049B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device and image capturing device
A photoelectric conversion device includes a pixel unit including a photoelectric converter, an amplifier arranged on the output side of the pixel unit, an output unit arranged on the output side of the amplifier, a first restriction circuit, and a second restriction circuit. The first restriction circuit restricts, between the amplifier and the output unit, a noise level read out from the pixel unit via the amplifier in reading out the noise level from the pixel unit. The second restriction circuit restricts, between the photoelectric converter and the amplifier, a noise level to be provided to the amplifier in reading out the noise level from the pixel unit. |
| US08670046B2 |
Image data creation support device and image data creation support method
A user enters an input for selecting an image-capturing mode. The user then captures the image of a target with a desired zoon factor as a target image. An image-capturing device determines a zoom factor for an image to be captured starting from the target image and then captures an image while zooming out to the determined zoom factor. A process of changing the zoom factor and capturing an image is repeated until the smallest zoom factor among determined zoom factors is used. When image capturing of an image of the smallest zoom factor is completed, metadata is created that includes the respective zoom factors of images and relative position information of the images, and the metadata is stored in a memory unit in relation with the data of the captured images. |
| US08670045B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method thereof, and computer readable storage medium
An information processing apparatus which acquires, from another information processing apparatus, data stored in the other information processing apparatus, comprising, a storage unit storing data, a selection unit selecting data stored in the storage unit, a generation unit generating, based on the selected data, condition information that determines a condition for specifying data to be requested to the other information processing apparatus, and a communication unit transmitting the condition information to the other information processing apparatus and receiving, from the other information processing apparatus, data that satisfies the determined condition. The storage unit stores information about a generation location of the data in association with the data, and the generation unit generates, based on information about generation locations of the selected data, condition information that determines a condition regarding a range of locations where data to be acquired from the other information processing apparatus were generated. |
| US08670044B2 |
Photometric device with accumulation control
A photometric device includes a storage-type photometric sensor, a first control means that performs accumulation control on the photometric sensor based upon an average value of an output of the photometric sensor, a second control means that performs accumulation control on the photometric sensor based upon a maximum value of the output of the photometric sensor, and an accumulation control means that controls the second control means to perform next accumulation control, if the maximum value of the output of the photometric sensor on which the accumulation control is performed by the first control means exceeds a saturation output level of the photometric sensor, and controls the first control means to perform next accumulation control, if the maximum value of the output of the photometric sensor does not exceed the saturation output level of the photometric sensor. |
| US08670040B2 |
Image processing method and apparatus and X-ray imaging apparatus implementing image sharpening processing
In an image processing method of processing an image obtained from an image sensor, the resolution distribution of the image sensor is held in a memory, and a resolution corresponding to a pixel of interest of the image is acquired from the resolution distribution of the image sensor which is held in the memory. Sharpening processing having the sharpening level selected on the basis of the acquired resolution is executed for the pixel of interest. |
| US08670035B2 |
Side mirror system with video display
An apparatus that provides an electronic image of areas around sides and rear of a large tractor trailer rig produced on a weatherproof screen that is located on the lower portion of the driver's side mirror. One (1) camera would be located on the rear of the trailer in a center mounted position, while another camera would be located on a passenger side near the front of the vehicle so that it can see the entire side of the vehicle. The cameras would be equipped with fixed wide-angle lenses. The video signal from each camera would be routed to an automatic switcher that displays each signal for a pre-determined time or allows for the manual selection of either camera on a permanent basis. The video signal is then displayed on the weatherproof monitor portion of the side view mirror. In such a manner the truck driver can look at the mirror and the monitor in order to see all three (3) sides of the vehicle at once. This feature eliminates looking in various directions to check for obstructions while backing up or changing lanes. |
| US08670031B2 |
High speed optical inspection system with camera array and compact, integrated illuminator
An optical inspection system is provided for inspecting a workpiece including a feature to be inspected. The system includes a workpiece transport configured to transport the workpiece in a nonstop manner. An illuminator is configured to provide a first strobed illumination field type and a second strobed illumination field type. The illuminator includes a light pipe having a first end proximate the feature, and a second end opposite the first end and spaced from the first end. The light pipe also has at least one reflective sidewall. The first end has an exit aperture and the second end has at least one second end aperture to provide a view of the feature therethrough. An array of cameras is configured to digitally image the feature. The array of cameras is configured to generate a first plurality of images of the feature with the first illumination field and a second plurality of images of the feature with the second illumination field. A processing device is operably coupled to the illuminator and the array of cameras, the processing device is configured to store at least some of the first and second plurality of images and provide the first and second pluralities to an other device. |
| US08670030B2 |
Photographing device and control method therefor
A photographing device includes a pressure sensor that detects a pressure received by the photographing device; a detection unit that detects whether the photographing device is placed in the water or in the air; and a storage unit that stores image information. A controller of the photographing device starts an operation of generating time-series pressure data on the basis of an output of the pressure sensor when a first state, in which the photographing device is placed from the air into the water, is detected. The controller stops the operation of generating the time-series pressure data when a second state, in which the photographing device is placed from the water into the air, is detected, associate the image file stored in the storage unit from the first state to the second state with the time-series pressure data, and store again the image file in the storage unit. |
| US08670023B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for providing a 3D man-machine interface (MMI)
An electronic interaction apparatus for providing a 3D MMI is provided with a processing unit. The processing unit determines a first length between an object positioned at a first time and a surface formed by two digital camera modules, and a second length between the object positioned at a second time and the surface. Also, the processing unit determines a third length between the object positioned at a third time and the surface, and determines a depth in a virtual 3D space corresponding to the object positioned at the third time according to the first length, the second length, and the third length. Particularly, the virtual 3D space is displayed in a display screen, the third time is later than the first time and the second time, and the third length is longer than the first length and shorter than the second length. |
| US08670020B2 |
Multi-dimensional staring lens system
Infrared stationary lens systems for performing multi-dimensional scans of scenes are provided. Systems illustratively include a stationary lens, a first scan mirror, a second scan mirror, and at least one actuator. The stationary lens transmits infrared light and has an optical axis. The first scan mirror has a first axis and pivots about the first axis to direct images of a scene to the stationary lens along a first dimension. The second scan mirror has a second axis and is located in an optical path between the first scan mirror and the stationary lens. The second scan mirror pivots about the second axis to direct images of the scene to the stationary lens along a second dimension. At least one actuator controls the first and the second scan mirrors such that the first and the second scan mirrors step and stare across the multi-dimensional scan of the scene. |
| US08670014B2 |
Image forming apparatus
This invention has as its object to improve an image formation throughput. An image forming apparatus of this invention times a time required until an image formation is ready to start after a reference signal is output, and executes the image formation when the image formation is ready to start (for example, initial processes are complete). Furthermore, when the next reference signal is output during the image formation, the image forming apparatus executes an image formation of the next color after a waiting process based on the timed time. |
| US08670012B2 |
Erasing apparatus and erasing method
According to one embodiment, an erasing apparatus includes a paper feeding unit configured to feed a sheet having an image recorded, an erasing unit including a pressing roller and a heater that has a shape following the outer circumference of the pressing roller and includes a contact area with the pressing roller, the erasing unit being configured to erase the image formed on the sheet fed to a contact section of the pressing roller and the heater from the paper feeding unit, a temperature detecting unit configured to detect the temperature of the heater, a controller configured to control the heater according to the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit, and a paper discharge unit configured to discharge the sheet on which the image is erased by the erasing unit. |
| US08670010B2 |
Method for controlling printing speed of thermal head
A method for controlling a printing speed of a thermal head having a plurality of heater elements arranged in a line includes: dividing a set of printing data into blocks each comprising one or more printing lines aligned in a main scanning direction, in which the dividing is in a sub scanning direction, and in which a block including a first predetermined number of printing lines is regarded as a unit block; calculating the number of the heater elements to be driven for each of printing lines included in a block as the number of on-dots, and comparing the numbers of on-dots for the block to obtain a maximum number of on-dots for the block; and setting a printing speed for one block to be slower than a printing speed for another block with smaller maximum number of on-dots than maximum number of on-dots for the one block. |
| US08670004B2 |
Driving liquid crystal displays
In an embodiment, a pixel driving circuit comprises: one or more source drivers for enabling a first subpixel of a subpixel pair to receive first data and a second subpixel of the subpixel pair to receive second data; one or more source drivers for driving the first data to the first subpixel and the second data to the second subpixel, wherein the first data is different than the second data. |
| US08670002B2 |
Portable electronic device adapted to change operation mode
A portable electronic device adapted to change its operation mode is disclosed. When a rotation of the portable electronic device is detected, the operation mode is changed according to the angle of rotation, and a user interface corresponding to the changed operation mode is output by a display unit. This method intuitively changes the mode based on a rotation of the device without requiring a complicated and unnecessary key input, and provides a more convenient and faster user interface. |
| US08669997B2 |
Display apparatus and method of controlling the same
A display apparatus according to this invention performs control so as to reduce the difference between image data input to a display unit and an image which is displayed on a display surface and acquired by an acquisition unit, based on the image data and the image. |
| US08669994B2 |
Data visualization methods
A method of creating a graphical representation of data in the form of a heatmap, the method including the steps of: positioning data points on a heatmap for graphical representation, calculating conical data distribution values around a data point based on a data value associated with that data point and rendering the heatmap based on the calculated data distribution values. |
| US08669993B2 |
User interface unit for fetching only active regions of a frame
A user interface unit in a graphics processing display pipe may include registers programmable with information that defines active regions of an image frame. Pixels within the active regions of the image frame are meant to be displayed, while pixels outside of the active regions of the image frame are not to be displayed. Fetch circuitry within the user interface unit may fetch frames from memory, fetching only the pixels within the active regions of the image frames as defined by the programmed contents of the registers. The user interface unit may then provide the fetched pixels to a blend unit to blend the fetched pixels with pixels from other frames or pixels of a video stream to produce output frames. When blended with pixels of a video stream, the fetched pixels may be displayed as a graphics overlay on top of the video stream. |
| US08669992B2 |
Shared virtual memory between a host and discrete graphics device in a computing system
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a device that has a device processor and a device memory. The device can couple to a host with a host processor and host memory. Both of the memories can have page tables to map virtual addresses to physical addresses of the corresponding memory, and the two memories may appear to a user-level application as a single virtual memory space. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08669986B2 |
Method for visualizing data extracted from a population of data
A method for visualizing data in a population of data includes steps of extracting a subject value from a population of data and defining points of interest in the population of data for comparison to the subject value, where the points of interest representing a scale having a minimum value and a maximum value. A target point of interest is selected. The scale is mapped to a graphic gauge display, wherein, points of interest are visually indicated on the graphic display, end points of the graphic gauge display correspond to the minimum value and the maximum value, and the target point of interest is visually indicated at a center of the graphic gauge display. Finally, the subject value is indicated on the graphic gauge display. |
| US08669983B2 |
Buffer construction with geodetic circular arcs
A method with acts for representing a buffer about a feature represented on an ellipsoid or round-object model. The method includes accessing a definition of a buffer stored on one or more computer readable medium in a format readable by a computer application. The definition of the buffer includes a number of arcs around a feature on an ellipsoid or round-object model. Each of the arcs is defined using three points defined using geodetic coordinates. The three points includes two endpoints of a given arc and a point on the arc between the two endpoints. The method further includes rendering the buffer by rendering the plurality of arcs. The method further includes displaying the rendered buffer to a user at a computing system display. |
| US08669982B2 |
Method and system for generating and displaying an interactive dynamic culling graph view of multiply connected objects
A method and system for generating a graph view on a user interface in a computing environment, is provided. One implementation involves, at a server, generating coordinate data for a graph representing multiply connected objects; transmitting the coordinate data to a client as lightweight object data; and at the client, based on the lightweight object data rendering an interactive dynamic graph view on a user interface; wherein the rendered graph view includes representations of a plurality of the multiply connected objects selected by depth culling the graph according to graph depth display control information. |
| US08669973B2 |
Liquid crystal display element, liquid crystal display device, and method for displaying with liquid crystal display element
A liquid crystal display element, a liquid crystal display device, and a method for displaying with a liquid crystal display element, wherein picture element electrodes (30) and a common electrode (36) are provided, each of a plurality of sub-picture elements (22) is provided with the common electrode (36) and a corresponding one of the picture element electrodes (30) in such a manner that the sub-picture elements (22) have different distances (a first distance d1 and a second distance d2) between the common electrode (36) and their corresponding ones of the picture element electrodes (30), display in a low gray scale region is carried out by means of a first sub-picture element (22a) that is a sub-picture element (22) in which the distance is short, display in a middle gray scale region is carried out by means of a second sub-picture element (22b) that is a sub-picture element (22) in which the distance is long, and display in a high gray scale region is carried out by means of the first sub-picture element (22a) and the second sub-picture element (22b). |
| US08669972B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel driving method, liquid crystal display device, and liquid crystal display driver including driving and setting a counter electrode for common inversion driving
A driving method of a liquid crystal display panel having a source line and a counter electrode, includes driving the counter electrode to a first potential, driving the, counter electrode to a second potential being different from the first potential, setting the counter electrode and the source line to a third potential by short-circuiting the counter electrode and the source line to an interconnection having a potential between the first potential and the second potential, and driving the source line to a potential corresponding to an image data. The setting of the counter electrode and the source line to the third potential occurs in a period of one frame. |
| US08669968B2 |
Video image display method and display panel using it
The present invention relates to a method of displaying a color video image in a sequential color display panel. The video frame is divided into a plurality of consecutive time segments each assigned to a given color component, and the video level of the pixels of the image is displayed by modulating the display time of the corresponding cells. The invention aims to propose a display method that reduces the blurring effect without causing color break-up. According to the invention, at least one reference time segment is defined in said plurality of time segments, and the image is displayed giving priority to lighting the cells during the reference time segment and the time segments closest to the reference time segment. |
| US08669962B2 |
Portable electronic device and method for avoiding erroneous touch on touch panel thereof
A method for avoiding an erroneous touch on a touch panel in a portable electronic device includes the steps of: determining whether a triggering event is received; enabling a sensor when the triggering event is received; detecting a distance between the portable electronic device and an object by the sensor; and determining a predetermined touch pressure threshold of the touch panel according to the detected distance. |
| US08669956B2 |
Bending threshold and release for a flexible display device
A flexible display device and a method for accurately recognizing a user's flex input bending of the flexible display device is described. The present invention is able to discard unintentional flexing of the flexible display device while being able to accurately recognize a user's intended flex input command based on a number of bending degree thresholds. A first bending threshold must be overcome in order to initially recognize a user's flex input as a valid flex input command. Then the user's flex input must fall below a second bending threshold in order to cease the recognition of the user's flex input as a valid flex input. |
| US08669953B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of controlling the same
A mobile terminal may display a first one of a plurality of wallpapers on a touch screen, display an item on the screen, recognize a request to arrange the item, change the wallpaper displayed on the touch screen based on a determined motion of the mobile terminal, and display the item on a selected wallpaper. |
| US08669949B2 |
Touch-based user interface touch sensor power
An apparatus having a touch sensor able to detect the touch of a tip of a digit of a user, having a conductive ring able to detect the approach of the tip towards the touch sensor, having a motion sensor to sense movement of a casing the apparatus, and having components of a controller to place the apparatus in one of a lower power mode after a predetermined period of inactivity has elapsed, a partial power mode in response to an indication of the approach of a tip of a digit, and a higher power state to detect touching of the touch sensor by a tip of a digit. Other forms of proximity detectors may be employed in place of the conductive ring, or the conductive ring may be replaced by one or more elongate conductors positioned about one or more sides of the periphery of a touch-sensitive surface of the touch sensor. |
| US08669948B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal includes a front housing made of a light-transmitting material and provided with edge parts, at least one of which is rounded or bent to be inclined which causes optical illusions so as to provide visual mystique. A display unit is provided under the front housing. A circuit substrate is provided under the display unit. A rear housing is provided to accommodate the display unit and the circuit substrate together with the front housing. A middle housing is provided between the front housing and the rear housing. The middle housing includes a receipt part to accommodate the display unit, and boundary parts connecting the receipt part and edge parts of the middle housing and disposed under the edge parts of the front housing. The edge part of the middle housing is protruded from the boundary part of the middle housing in a horizontal direction. |
| US08669944B2 |
Touch sensitive displays with layers of sensor plates providing capacitance based proximity sensing and related touch panels
An electronic touch panel includes a plurality of spaced apart first sensor plates that are arranged in a first direction on a first planar layer. A proximity sensor plate is spaced apart from and attached to the first planar layer. The proximity sensor plate has a greater surface area than a plurality of the first sensor plates. A position detection circuit is configured to electrically charge the first sensor plates to generate capacitive coupling to an adjacent user object and to detect therefrom a location of the user object relative to the first direction across the first planar layer. The position detection circuit is further configured to electrically charge the proximity sensor plate to generate a higher level of capacitive coupling to the user object than a plurality of the first sensor plates and to detect therefrom a proximity of the user object relative to a direction away from the first planar layer. |
| US08669943B2 |
Closed-loop sensor on a solid-state object position detector
The present disclosure discloses an object position detector. The object position detector comprises a touch sensor formed as a closed loop and having a physical constraint formed on an upper surface of the touch sensor and coextensive with the closed loop. The touch sensor is configured to sense motion of an object proximate to the closed loop. The object position detector also comprises a processor coupled to the touch sensor and is programmed to generate an action in response to the motion on the touch sensor. |
| US08669942B2 |
Input device having key tops
An operation unit has an operation surface for accepting an input operation. In a plan view, the operation surface has a rectangular contour including a plurality of sides and a plurality of corner portions. When each point at which extensions of adjacent two of the plural sides cross each other is defined as a virtual intersection, and when an intersection at which respective diagonals linking the virtual intersections cross each other is defined as a virtual center, the contour of the corner portion crosses the diagonal that passes through the virtual intersection and the virtual center, at a point between the virtual intersection in the vicinity of the corner portion and the virtual center. The corner portions is a specific corner portion having an intersection with the diagonal at a position closer to the virtual center than the adjacent two corner portions. |
| US08669939B2 |
Spatial, multi-modal control device for use with spatial operating system
A system comprising an input device includes a detector coupled to a processor. The detector detects an orientation of the input device. The input device has multiple modal orientations corresponding to the orientation. The modal orientations correspond to multiple input modes of a gestural control system. The detector is coupled to the gestural control system and automatically controls selection of an input mode in response to the orientation. |
| US08669936B2 |
System and method for presenting a dynamically ordered presentation
A computer-implemented method for presenting information includes a plurality of graphics that can be presented in an order determined by a presenter during the presentation. The method includes creating a presentation including a plurality of graphics, each graphic including at least one of static images, animations and video, wherein the graphics can be displayed in an order determined by the presenter during the presentation through selection of a launch area, tracking a presenter during presentation of the presentation to determine a location of the presenter's hand, and receiving a selection from the presenter during the presentation of the presentation indicating a selection of one of the multiple launch area graphics to be displayed, allowing the presenter to present the plurality of graphics in any order. |
| US08669935B2 |
Operation device
To provide an operation device for use by a user by holding in one hand, comprising a thumb operating area defined on a surface of the enclosure of the operation device, where an operation member to be operated by the user, using his/her thumb, while holding the operation device is provided; an inclination operation member including a stick part projecting from the thumb operating area, for being operated by the user by inclining the stick part, using the thumb; and an operation button provided on the surface of the enclosure in a position opposed to the thumb operating area, being capable of being pressed by the user, using another finger, in a direction intersecting a direction toward the inclination operation member. |
| US08669931B2 |
Driving method and apparatus for changing gate-on sequence for a liquid crystal display panel
A driving method for an LCD panel includes generating a sequence, generating a plurality of gate driving signals, determining a gate-on sequence of the plurality of gate driving signals according to the sequence, and driving pixels of the LCD panel using the plurality of gate driving signals according to the gate-on sequence for displaying images. |
| US08669928B2 |
Display device
Display bright in contrast can be obtained without discrination and flicker in the display device of the direct vision type whose pixel pitches are short to 20 μm or less. A liquid crystal panel is driven through the frame inverse driving method, and the vertical frame frequency is set to 120 Hz or more. Also, each of the pixels is arranged to correspond to one of R, G and B of color filters disposed on a TFT substrate side. |
| US08669927B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof
An LCD device improving picture-quality and a driving method thereof are disclosed.The LCD device and the driving method thereof generates analog normal driving gamma values and analog black data driving gamma values according to a driving mode selection signal which designates any one of a normal driving mode and a black data driving mode. Also, the LCD device and the driving method thereof provides RGB data voltages compensated with any one of the analog normal driving gamma values and the analog black data driving gamma values. In other words, the LCD device and the driving method thereof allow the normal driving gamma values to be used in the normal driving mode and the black data driving gamma values to be used in the black data driving mode. Therefore, brightness in the black data driving mode can maintains almost equally to that in the normal driving mode. As a result, the deterioration of picture-quality can be prevented. |
| US08669925B2 |
Light-emitting device and electric appliance
An inexpensive light emitting device capable of displaying a bright image and an electric appliance using the light emitting device. In the light emitting device having a pixel portion and a driver circuit formed on one insulating member, all of semiconductor elements for the pixel portion and the driver circuit are formed by n-channel semiconductor elements, thereby enabling the manufacturing process to be simplified. Each of light-emitting elements provided in the pixel portion emits light in such a direction that most of the light travels away from the insulating member, so that substantially the whole of the pixel-forming segment electrode (corresponding to a cathode of an EL element) is formed as an effective light-emitting area. Therefore, a low-priced light-emitting device capable of displaying a bright image can be obtained. |
| US08669921B2 |
Plasma display apparatus and method of driving the same
A plasma display apparatus and a method of driving the same are disclosed. The plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel including a scan electrode and a sustain electrode that are positioned parallel to each other and a driver. The driver allows a change amount of a voltage difference between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode in a reset period of a subfield over time in a pattern hold mode in which a pattern of input video data remains in a previous pattern to be different from a change amount of a voltage difference between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode in a reset period of a subfield over time in a pattern change mode in which the pattern of the video data changes. |
| US08669914B2 |
Dual-band antenna and related wireless communication apparatus
A dual-band antenna is disclosed including: a first antenna comprising: a first radiating portion including a plurality of separated radiating strips positioned on a first plane of a circuit board; a second radiating portion including a plurality of separated radiating strips positioned on a second plane of the circuit board; and a plurality of vias for coupling the plurality of radiating strips on the first plane with the plurality of radiating strips on the second plane to form a spiral radiating body; a second antenna having a radiating plane coupled with the first radiating portion or the second radiating portion; a shorting element coupled with the radiating plane and shared by the first and second antennas; and a feeding element coupled with the radiating plane and shared by the first and second antennas; wherein the width of part of the radiating plane gradually increases along a direction. |
| US08669912B2 |
Multi-directional receiving antenna array
Techniques for providing multi-directional receiving antenna arrays are described herein. According to an embodiment, an apparatus includes an antenna array including multiple antennas and an orientation system. The orientation system includes multiple orientation marks and multiple alignment marks. At least one of the multiple antennas is configured to be positioned toward a respective station transmitter location based at least partially on an alignment of one of the multiple orientation marks relative to one of the multiple alignment marks. |
| US08669909B2 |
Antenna, antenna apparatus, and communication apparatus
The claimed invention discloses an antenna including: a magnetic core (11); a coil winding section (14a, 14b) in which a conductive wiring line is wound around the magnetic core; and an adjustment section (13) connected to one end of the coil winding section. The adjustment section (13) is disposed at an end part of the magnetic core (11) and includes a plurality of adjustable conductive wiring lines (13b-13d) formed by dividing a conductive wiring line connected to one end of the coil winding section (14a, 14b) into multiple conductive wiring lines in a direction intersecting with a winding axis direction of the coil winding section (14a, 14b). |
| US08669907B2 |
Ultra-wideband miniaturized omnidirectional antennas via multi-mode three-dimensional (3-D) traveling-wave (TW)
A class of ultra-wideband miniaturized traveling-wave (TW) antennas comprising a conducting ground surface at the base, a plurality of TW structures having at least one ultra-wideband low-profile two-dimensional (2-D) surface-mode TW structure, a frequency-selective coupler placed between adjacent TW structures, and a feed network. In one embodiment, a 2-D surface-mode TW structure is positioned above the conducting ground surface, a normal-mode TW structure placed on top with an external frequency-selective coupler placed in between; continuous octaval bandwidth of 14:1 and size reduction by a factor of 3 to 5 are achievable. In other embodiments using at least two 2-D TW structures and a dual-band feed network, a continuous bandwidth over 100:1, and up to 140:1 or more, is reachable. In yet another embodiment, ultra-wideband multi-band performance over an octaval operating bandwidth up to 2000:1 or more is feasible. |
| US08669904B2 |
Near-field antenna
The present invention relates to a near-field antenna. In an aspect, the near-field antenna may include a dielectric layer, a ground plane formed on one side of the dielectric layer, a plurality of U-shaped slots periodically disposed in the ground plane for radiation, and a microstrip line provided on the other side of the dielectric layer for power feeding. In another aspect, the near-field antenna may include a dielectric layer, a ground plane formed on one side of the dielectric layer, a plurality of U-shaped slots periodically disposed in the ground plane for radiation, and a microstrip line configured to have a plurality of U-shaped slots diverged on the other side of the dielectric layer in parallel for power feeding, have the plurality of U-shaped slots periodically disposed in series in respective diverged lines, and have an end shorted to form standing waves. |
| US08669903B2 |
Dual frequency band communication antenna assembly having an inverted F radiating element
A dual frequency band antenna has a first section with a dielectric material separating parallel first and second conductive layers. An electrical shunt extends between the first and second electrically conductive layers. A second section includes an inverted F element electrically connected to the second electrically conductive layer. A transmission medium carries signals between the antenna assembly and a communication circuit and has a first electrical conductor connected to the first electrically conductive layer and a second electrical conductor connected to the inverted F element. |
| US08669901B2 |
Method for determining azimuth and elevation angles of arrival of coherent sources
A method for jointly determining the azimuth angle θ and the elevation angle Δ of the wave vectors of P waves in a system comprising an array of sensors, a number of waves out of the P waves being propagated along coherent or substantially coherent paths between a source and said sensors, includes at least the following steps: selecting a subset of sensors from said sensors to form a linear subarray of sensors; applying, to the signals from the chosen subarray, an algorithm according to a single dimension to decorrelate the sources of the P waves; determining a first component w of said wave vectors by applying, to the signals observed on the sensors of the chosen subarray, a goniometry algorithm according to the single dimension w; determining a second component u of said wave vectors by applying a goniometry algorithm according to the single dimension u to the signals from the entire array of sensors; determining θ and Δ from w and u. |
| US08669891B2 |
Systems and methods for ADC based timing and gain control
Various embodiments of the present invention provide circuits, systems and methods for data processing. For example, a data processing circuit is discussed that includes: an analog to digital converter circuit, a target response circuit, and a timing circuit. The analog to digital converter circuit is operable to receive a data input and to provide corresponding digital samples synchronous to a sampling phase. The sampling phase corresponds to a phase feedback. The target response circuit is operable to provide an expected output corresponding to a known input. The timing circuit is operable to generate the phase feedback based at least in part on values derived from the expected output. |
| US08669890B2 |
Method and apparatus of estimating/calibrating TDC mismatch
A method of estimating mismatches of a time-to-digital converter (TDC) includes: capturing phase error samples; calculating difference between the phase error samples and an expected value of the phase error samples; and adjusting correction gain of the TDC based on the calculating step. Another method of estimating mismatches of a TDC includes: capturing TDC output code samples; storing a plurality of accumulation values corresponding to different TDC values respectively, wherein each accumulation value records a number of times a TDC value is carried by the TDC output code samples; calculating a desired value based on the accumulation values; calculating difference between the accumulation values and the desired value; and adjusting correction gain of the TDC based on the calculating step. |
| US08669889B2 |
Using variable length code tables to compress an input data stream to a compressed output data stream
Provided are a computer program product, system, method, and data structure for using variable length code tables to compress an input data stream to a compressed output data stream. If a number of consecutive data units in the input data stream match the number of consecutive data units in a history buffer of previously received data units in the input data stream, a copy pointer symbol is generated indicating the copy pointer symbol referencing previously received data units in the history buffer and indicating a location of a start of the consecutive data units in the history buffer. A determination is made from a variable length code table of an encoding of the number. Indication is made in the generated copy pointer symbol the determined encoding of the number and the copy pointer symbol is outputted in the compressed output data stream. |
| US08669885B2 |
Method and system for adding gadgets to a traffic report
A method and system for adding traffic gadgets to a traffic report is disclosed. A traffic gadget is a dynamic object defined by a relatively small code module that is separate from the main traffic report application code. A programmer develops the traffic gadget's visual functionality and specifies the type of data that the traffic gadget can receive. An artist configures the visible appearance of the traffic gadget for a specific end-user application. The end-user may then select a traffic gadget and add the selected traffic gadget to a visual traffic report. The user may also select data to control the functionality of the traffic gadget during the traffic report. |
| US08669883B2 |
Visual landing aids
A visual aid for the pilot of an aircraft approaching to land on an aircraft carrier comprises a series of lights (9) embedded along the landing deck and controlled in response to pitch and heave of the vessel so that the light(s) illuminated at any time indicate a visual aim point which is stabilised with respect to a specified glideslope (5) onto the vessel irrespective of such vertical excursions of the vessel. It is used in conjunction with a marker on a head up display or helmet mounted display for example so that registry of the marker with the illuminated light at any time indicates that the aircraft is on the correct glideslope. |
| US08669882B2 |
Alert device
An alert device for a vehicle including a communications receiver for receiving file fragments for the device, a positioning data receiver for providing vehicle location data, a microcontroller system including a microcontroller and a programmable non-volatile memory system, for building and storing application and data files from the fragments, and executing an alert application of the device by processing at least one application file and associated data identified by configuration instructions included in at least one of the fragments to provide alert data for the vehicle corresponding to the location of the vehicle determined by the application on the basis of the vehicle location data. |
| US08669880B2 |
Method and apparatus for preventing overheating of a computer
A computer implemented method and apparatus for preventing overheating of a computer comprising sensing a disengagement action for the computer, detecting a power setting associated with the disengagement action, and performing, when the power setting is detected to be set to a preset mode, at least one of alerting the user regarding the power setting and forcing the computer into a low power state. |
| US08669878B1 |
Carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system and associated method
A carbon monoxide activated garage door opening system including a garage door opening system connected to an existing garage door and a user interface communicatively coupled to the garage door opening system for toggling the garage door between open and closed positions based upon receiving a corresponding user input at the user interface. Such a user interface preferably has a first carbon monoxide detector located therein for detecting an initial carbon monoxide level in the ambient air surrounding the user interface. A second carbon monoxide detector is attached to a rear side of the user interface for confirming whether the initial carbon monoxide level is an unsafe carbon monoxide level. In this manner, upon validating the unsafe carbon monoxide level, the user interface is adapted to automatically override the user input and thereby open the garage door. |
| US08669874B2 |
Systems and methods for stirring electromagnetic fields and interrogating stationary RFID tags
RFID tags are used for many purpose including tracking. RFID interrogators are used to retrieve information from tags. In many applications, RFID interrogators and RFID tags remain stationary during interrogation. Regions of low energy due to interference from either additional antenna or reflections from RFID tags and objects can impede or prohibit the reading of RFID tags residing in such regions. Stirring of the generated electromagnetic field is a method of moving around the regions of low energy, where tags can not be read, during the interrogation process. Mechanical stirring is accomplished by introducing a conductor into the electromagnetic field and moving it about in the field. Solid state stirring is accomplished by introducing a variable conductor into the field and varying the conductivity of the variable conductor. Mathematical stirring is accomplished by use of a plurality of antenna and controlling the phase difference between the antenna in a configuration known as phased antenna arrays. |
| US08669869B2 |
Method and device for detecting and reporting activity
A device and methods are provided for monitoring and reporting activity including providing an alert based on detected activity. In one embodiment, a method includes is monitoring activity relative to a device based on activity detected by the device, determining a baseline activity level for the device, and detecting a change in the baseline activity level. The method may further include transmitting an electronic message via a network connection based on the change in baseline line activity, the electronic message providing an alert based on the change in baseline activity level. The device and methods may advantageously allow for providing alerts based on inactivity. |
| US08669868B2 |
Reteachable non-contact switching circuit
A method for reteaching a switching circuit is provided. The method includes presenting a target within a sensing range of a sensor of the switching circuit for a pre-determined duration and acquiring an identification code of the target via the sensor. The method also includes comparing the acquired identification code with all stored identification codes of other targets previously used by the switching circuit as a basis for switching and reteaching the switching circuit for switching based on the acquired identification code if the acquired identification code is different from all stored identification codes previously used by the switching circuit as a basis for switching. |
| US08669867B2 |
Multi-function printer and alarm method thereof
A multi-function printer (MFP) and an alarm method thereof are provided. The provided method includes determining whether the MFP has accomplished printing a document; and when the MFP has accomplished printing the document, determining whether to produce an alarm message to an electronic device corresponding to the document in response to a comparison result between an input speech and a database. Thus, in response to the generation of the alarm message, not only to warn a user who forgot to take away the printed document, but also further to indicate the location of the printed document. |
| US08669860B1 |
System and method for monitoring access, power loss, and pressure loss for electrical, telecommunications, and mechanical equipment
A monitoring system and method for monitoring electrical, mechanical, and telecommunications equipment including air conditioning components of a facility is provided. The monitoring system can include door sensors, pressure sensors, and power phase loss monitors, which can be centrally connected to a transmitter for communication over a network for notifying client devices and activating alarms. The alarms can be provided when voltage drops, pressure drops, or a door has been opened. |
| US08669854B2 |
Determination and signalling to a driver of a motor vehicle of a potential collision of the motor vehicle with an obstacle
Described herein is a method for determining and signalling to a driver of a motor vehicle a condition of danger deriving from a potential collision of the motor vehicle itself with an obstacle. The method is able to: determine a path of travel of the motor vehicle along a stretch of road; define an area of detection of the obstacles in the stretch of road; detect the obstacles present in the area of detection in such a way as to generate a list of possible obstacles that might be hit; identify, from among the possible obstacles detected, a main obstacle; determine a level of risk associated to a condition of impact of the motor vehicle with the main obstacle detected; and finally generate a signal or alarm message regarding the level of risk determined. |
| US08669850B2 |
Method for adjusting the transmission time of a continuous wave and reader thereof
A reader and method for adjusting the transmission time of a continuous wave (CW), wherein the method comprises setting an initial value for a response waiting time, sending the CW to a tag after sending a command to the tag and waiting for a response from the tag, judging whether the response from the tag is received within the response waiting time. If the response from the tag is received within the response waiting time, then sending of the CW is stopped and the response waiting time is adjusted. If the response from the tag is still not received beyond the response waiting time, then sending of the CW is stopped. The time for the reader to wait for a response from the tag is far less than 20 ms. Consequently, a command failure can be found early, so as to improve the processing efficiency of an RFID system. |
| US08669843B2 |
Fingerprint detection device and method and associated touch control device with fingerprint detection
A fingerprint detection device and method and an associated touch control device with fingerprint detection are disclosed. The fingerprint detection device includes special detecting units for upgrading the accuracy of fingerprint detection. The fingerprint detection device comprises a plurality of detecting units, a driving circuit and a reading circuit. Each detecting unit includes a fingerprint electrode and a storage capacitor coupled to the fingerprint electrode. A sense capacitor can be formed between the fingerprint electrode and a finger, where the sense capacitor is parallel connected to the storage capacitor. The driving circuit is coupled to the detecting units and provides a charging signal to charge an equivalent capacitor of each detecting unit, where the capacitance of the equivalent capacitor is determined according to whether the sense capacitor is formed within the detecting unit. The reading circuit is coupled to the detecting units and reads the voltage of the storage capacitor after the equivalent capacitor is charged, so as to determine whether the detecting unit detects a portion of fingerprint and the detected portion is a furrow or ridge. |
| US08669838B2 |
Transformer having assembled bobbins and voltage transformation module having the transformer
The present invention provides a transformer having assembled bobbins and a voltage transformation module having the transformer. The transformer includes a base, bobbins, secondary windings and two magnetic cores. The base is provided with a penetration hole. The bobbins are disposed in the base and each has an annular groove, a hollow portion corresponding to the penetration hole, and protrusions formed on a surface of the bobbin. The protrusions form a gap between the two adjacent bobbins when the two adjacent bobbins are assembled with each other. The secondary windings are disposed between the bobbins and each has a through-hole corresponding to the hollow portion. The two magnetic cores penetrate the penetration hole of the base, the hollow portions of the bobbins, and the through-holes of the secondary windings to assemble them together. |
| US08669837B2 |
Laminate stack comprising individual soft magnetic sheets, electromagnetic actuator, process for their manufacture and use of a soft magnetic laminate stack
A laminate stack having individual soft magnetic sheets. The individual sheets are involutely curved in the laminate stack. Each individual sheet has a first long side, a second long side opposite the first long side, a first short side and a second short side opposite the first short side. The first long side has a recess, said recess being rectangular and equidistant from the first short side, the second short side and the second long side when the individual sheet is in its uncurved state. |
| US08669836B2 |
Magnetic trigger mechanism
A magnetic trigger mechanism with a yoke with armature opening. The armature is coaxially surrounded by a coil having an excitation coil, which is acted on by a force of a preloaded spring and which remains in a first end position due to magnetic holding force of a permanent magnet when there is no current flowing through the excitation coil. The permanent magnet is arranged at a first end of the armature and the second end position of the armature being achieved by a brief flow of current through the excitation coil together with the accompanying lowering of the magnetic holding force and the spring force. The first end of the armature is guided in the coil body, and the second end position, which faces the armature opening, is guided by a centering ring, the highly permeable centering ring rests against the yoke at the armature opening and can move. |
| US08669824B2 |
Oscillator having a plurality of switchable MEMS vibrators
An oscillation circuit includes a plurality of MEMS vibrators each having a first terminal and a second terminal, and having respective resonant frequencies different from each other, an amplifier circuit (an inverting amplifier circuit) having an input terminal and an output terminal, and a connection circuit adapted to connect the first terminal of one of the MEMS vibrators and the input terminal to each other, and the second terminal of the MEMS vibrator and the output terminal to each other to thereby connect the one of the MEMS vibrators and the amplifier circuit (the inverting amplifier circuit) to each other. |
| US08669811B2 |
Radio-frequency power amplifier with fast envelope tracking
A radio-frequency power amplifier with envelope tracking, comprising: a power RF amplifying device for amplifying a RF signal; and a switching DC/DC converter, comprising a switching device and a rectifying device, for providing said power RF amplifying device with a DC power supply at a voltage level proportional to an envelope of said RF signal; wherein said switching device is a RF power transistor; characterized in that said rectifying device, and preferably also said power RF amplifying device, is also a transistor of a same technology, connected as a two-terminal device. Preferably, said power RF amplifying device is also a transistor of said same technology. A low-pass filter can also be provided for reducing the bandwidth of the envelope signal on which the PWM signal driving the DC/DC converter depends. |
| US08669809B2 |
Differential output inductor for class D amplifier
A circuit includes a first input terminal for receiving a first pulsed voltage and a second input terminal for receiving a second pulsed voltage. The circuit further includes a load and an LC filter. The LC filter includes a coupled inductor pair that includes a first winding and a second winding magnetically coupled to each other. The first winding is coupled between the first input terminal and the load, and the second winding is coupled between the second input terminal and the load. A frequency of a first current flowing through the first winding is increased by the second pulsed voltage applied to the second winding. |
| US08669806B2 |
Low voltage antifuse programming circuit and method
A circuit for programming a fuse is disclosed. The circuit includes a voltage supply terminal (Vp) and a latch circuit comprising a p-channel transistor and an n-channel transistor (208-214). A semiconductor controlled rectifier (206) in the circuit includes at least one terminal of the p-channel transistor. A fuse (200) is coupled between the voltage supply terminal and the semiconductor controlled rectifier. The fuse is programmed in response to the semiconductor controlled rectifier. |
| US08669804B2 |
Devices and methods for improving voltage handling and/or bi-directionality of stacks of elements when connected between terminals
Devices and methods for improving voltage handling and/or bi-directionality of stacks of elements when connected between terminals are described. Such devices and method include use of symmetrical compensation capacitances, symmetrical series capacitors, or symmetrical sizing of the elements of the stack. |
| US08669800B2 |
Implementing power saving self powering down latch structure
A method and circuits for implementing power saving self powering down latch operation, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. A master slave latch includes a virtual power supply connection. At least one connection control device is coupled between the virtual power supply connection and a voltage supply rail. A driver gate applies a power down signal driving the at least one connection control device to control the at least one connection control device during a self power down mode. The driver gate combines a self power down input signal and a latch data output signal to generate the power down signal. |
| US08669795B2 |
Noise filtering fractional-N frequency synthesizer and operating method thereof
The present invention discloses a noise filtering fractional-n frequency synthesizer and an operating method thereof. The noise filtering fractional-n frequency synthesizer comprises a filter, a frequency calibration loop, a phase calibration loop and a digitally controlled delay line. The filter receives a first frequency division signal and generates a filtered signal. The frequency calibration loop is coupled to the filter and generates a first control signal. The phase calibration loop is coupled to the filter and the frequency calibration loop, and generates a second control signal. The digitally controlled delay line is coupled to the phase calibration loop and receives the second control signal. Thus, quantization noise of the fractional-n frequency synthesizer can be reduced, and phase noise of the fractional-n frequency synthesizer can be improved. In addition, the system remains locked after the filter outputs the signal. |
| US08669794B2 |
Circuit for detecting a voltage change using a time-to-digital converter
A circuit for detecting a voltage change is described. The circuit includes a supply insensitive pulse generator that generates a pulse signal. The circuit also includes a time-to-digital converter coupled to the supply insensitive pulse generator. The time-to-digital converter generates a digital signal based on the pulse signal and a voltage. The circuit also includes a controller coupled to the time-to-digital converter that detects a voltage change based on the digital signal. |
| US08669792B2 |
Voltage mode driver using pre-emphasis and de-emphasis signals
A driver comprises, an input block for receiving one or more data signals and one or more control signals; a data control block for processing the data signals and the control signals to determine one or more modified control signals, wherein the modified control signal is determined as a function of one or more de-emphasis signals, one or more pre-emphasis signals, and the control signals; and a driver block for receiving the modified control signals and generating one or more output data signals. |
| US08669789B2 |
Semiconductor device driving unit and method
A semiconductor device (11) having a switching function of being turned on or off according to a voltage (Vge) of a driving signal supplied to a gate thereof is driven by generating a feedback voltage (VFE) based on a time change (dI/dt) of a collector current (Ic) of the semiconductor device (11) and applying the feedback voltage (VFE) as part of the voltage (Vge) of the driving signal when the semiconductor device (11) is switched from on to off. |
| US08669786B1 |
Clock phase shift detector
A clock phase shift detector circuit may include a phase detector that receives a first and a second clock signal, whereby the phase detector generates a phase signal based on a phase difference between the first and the second clock signal. A first integrator is coupled to the phase detector, receives the phase signal, and generates an integrated phase signal. A second integrator receives the first clock signal and generates an integrated first clock signal. A comparator is coupled to the first and the second integrator, whereby the comparator receives the integrated phase signal and the integrated first clock signal. The comparator may then generate a control signal that detects a change between the phase difference of the first and the second clock signal and an optimized phase difference based on an amplitude comparison between the integrated phase signal and the integrated first clock signal. |
| US08669785B2 |
Logic circuits using neuristors
Logic circuits using neuristors is described. In an example, a circuit includes a plurality of neuristors each producing an output voltage spike in response to a super-threshold input voltage. A plurality of impedances couple the plurality of neuristors to form at least one input and an output, the output selectively providing an output voltage spike based on a logical operation of at least one input voltage at the at least one input. |
| US08669777B2 |
Assessing connection joint coverage between a device and a printed circuit board
The present disclosure relates to assessing coverage of a connection joint, such as a solder joint, between a device and a printed circuit board (PCB). In accordance with various embodiments, a PCB includes a conductive thermal pad adapted to be electrically and mechanically connected to an exposed pad of a component by an intervening connection joint to establish a thermal path to dissipate thermal energy from the component. An isolated test via that extends through the conductive thermal pad in non-contacting relation thereto, the test via adapted to mechanically and electrically contact said intervening connection joint. A coverage characteristic of the intervening connection joint can be determined in relation to application of an electrical signal to the test via. |
| US08669776B2 |
Core circuitry, input and output buffers, and four bypass switches
An integrated circuit includes switching circuits for selectively connecting the bond pads to functional core logic and isolating the bond pads from second conductors, and the switch circuits for selectively connecting the bond pads to the second conductors to provide bi-directional connections between the bond pads on opposite sides of the substrate and isolating the bond pads from the functional core logic. |
| US08669771B2 |
System and method for providing electromagnetic imaging through electroquasistatic sensing
A system and method for providing electromagnetic imaging through electroquasistatic sensing contains an electromagnetic sensor for imaging a sample. The electromagnetic sensor contains drive/sense electronics and a pixelated sensor array having an array of capacitive sensor electrodes that source electric fields that interact with the sample, and wherein the electrodes are individually drivable by the drive/sense electronics in a coordinated manner to establish a desired temporal and spatial pattern in which electrical properties of the electrodes are used to generate an image. Other components of the system include a precision motion controller, sensor head and associated electronics, and a computer for performing data acquisition and signal inversion. |
| US08669769B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting deterioration of lightning arrester
An apparatus for detecting deterioration of a lightning arrester includes: a high-frequency power supply; a pair of detecting terminals 12 connected to the high-frequency power supply via a resistance for measurement and touched to the terminals of the arrester; a voltage detecting circuit for obtaining a terminal voltage of the resistance for measurement when the detecting terminals touch the terminals of the arrester; and a determining circuit for comparing the detected voltage with a reference value to determine whether the detected voltage is good or bad. A voltage having a frequency sufficiently higher than the operation frequency of a power line is generated by the high-frequency power supply and applied to the arrester, and change in electrical characteristics due to deterioration of zinc oxide elements is detected as change in current including capacitive current, and then it is determined whether the detected change is good or bad. |
| US08669767B1 |
Sub-symbol rate cable tester
Aspects of the present disclosure provide for a cable tester that tests a cable to determine the cable length. The cable tester can include a clock generator that generates a clock that has clock period that is a multiple of the data symbol period and a signal generator that injects the training signal, which can be synchronous with the clock, into the cable. The cable tester can also include a receiver that samples the returned signal from the cable and adaptively filters the returned signal based on the training signal and a controller that determines the cable length from the adaptive filter tap coefficients. |
| US08669763B2 |
Multi-axis fluxgate magnetic sensor
A ring-shaped first ring-shaped magnetic core, a first excitation coil wound on the first ring-shaped magnetic core, two detection coils wound on the first ring-shaped magnetic core in such a manner that respective input axes of the detection coils are orthogonal to each other, two signal detection/feedback units that detect outputs of the detection coils and feed output signals back to the detection coils, and a first excitation circuit that supplies an excitation current to the first excitation coil are provided, a second ring-shaped magnetic core, a compensation coil wound on the second ring-shaped magnetic core, and a compensation signal generation unit that generates, from an output of a detection coil, a compensation current to be applied to the compensation coil, are further provided, and the second ring-shaped magnetic core and the compensation coil are disposed in positions and directions so that a compensation magnetic field created by the compensation coil cancels interference between magnetic fields generated by two detection coils wound on the first ring-shaped magnetic core. |
| US08669760B2 |
Angle detection system and method of manufacturing the same
An angle detection system of the present invention includes: a stator 200 which includes a plurality of salient pole portions which are formed on a flat sheet made of a magnetic material and are raised by bending, each salient pole portion constituting a winding magnetic core on which a winding member for excitation and a winding member for detection are mounted; and a rotor 300 which is made of a magnetic material and is configured to be rotatable relative to the stator such that gap permeance between the rotor and each salient pole portion is changed due to the rotation thereof about a rotational axis thereof. According to the angle detection device of the present invention, it is possible to provide the angle detection device which can largely reduce the number of parts and can realize the reduction of cost and the enhancement of reliability. |
| US08669757B2 |
Fibre monitoring apparatus and method
An electric field sensor comprises an insulating substrate, a plurality of non-contacting electrodes disposed on the substrate, and a plurality of conductors coupled to the electrodes, and extending transversely through the substrate. The electrodes comprise a first electrode portion, and a second electrode portion interlaced with the first electrode portion. The conductors comprise a first conductor portion and a second conductor portion. The first portion of the conductors are coupled to the first electrode portion. The second portion of the conductors are coupled to the second electrode portion. |
| US08669754B2 |
Low supply regulator having a high power supply rejection ratio
A power supply noise rejection circuit for functional circuits, such as a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The power supply noise rejection circuit includes an isolation transistor connected to a voltage supply for providing an output current and voltage substantially free of noise across the full frequency range. A current source, a diode connected reference transistor with resistance means connected between its gate and drain terminals, and a dummy circuit serially connected between the voltage supply and ground generate a bias voltage that is applied to the gate of the isolation transistor. The dummy circuit mimics the DC characteristics of the functional circuit such that the output current tracks with process and temperature variations. The isolation transistor and the reference transistor can have negative threshold voltages, and the circuit can include bleed means for drawing current from the gate of the reference transistor and isolation transistor. |
| US08669751B2 |
Power supply controller with input voltage compensation for efficiency and maximum power output
A controller for regulating an output of a power supply includes a logic block and an oscillator. The logic block generates the drive signal to control switching of a power switch in response to a clock signal. The clock signal has a frequency that decreases responsive to a time period of the drive signal, where a decrease in the time period of the drive signal represents an increase in an input voltage of the power supply. The oscillator is coupled to generate the clock signal in response to a waveform having an amplitude swing. The oscillator alters the waveform in response to the time period of the drive signal. |
| US08669750B2 |
Method of forming a semiconductor device and structure thereof
A power conversion circuit and method of formation is provided, which in one embodiment includes a transistor, a driver circuit having an output connected to a control electrode of the transistor and having a bootstrap port configured to be connected to a first terminal of a capacitor; a switch circuit having a first port connected to a current carrying electrode of the transistor and having a ground port connected to a ground, a capacitor port configured to be connected to a second of the capacitor, a first switch configuration in which the capacitor port is connected to the first port, and a second switch configuration in which the capacitor port is connected to the ground port. |
| US08669748B2 |
Device for synchronous DC-DC conversion and synchronous DC-DC converter
A DC-DC converter transforms a DC input voltage to generate a DC output voltage by complementary switching control of a main switching transistor and a synchronous rectifying transistor. The DC-DC converter includes a soft-start circuit configured to generate a soft-start voltage rising from an initial voltage at start-up of the DC-DC converter; and a control circuit configured to control switching of the main switching transistor and the synchronous rectifying transistor based on the soft-start voltage to perform soft start of the DC-DC converter. The control circuit brings both of the main switching transistor and the synchronous rectifying transistor to an off state while the soft-start voltage is lower than the DC output voltage. |
| US08669747B2 |
Constant on-time switching regulator, and control method and on-time calculation circuit therefor
The present invention discloses a constant on-time switching regulator, a control method therefor, and an on-time calculation circuit for calculating an on-time period of a constant on-time switching regulator. The on-time calculation circuit calculates on-time according to practical conditions. It includes: a driver gate receiving a gate signal of a power switch in a switching regulator, the driver gate operating between high and low levels of a first reference voltage and ground; a low pass filter receiving an output from the driver gate and generating a second reference voltage, a ratio between the second reference voltage and the first reference voltage being substantially the same as a duty ratio of the gate signal; and an on-time generator comparing the second reference voltage with a ramp signal to determine an on-time of the power switch. |
| US08669742B2 |
Battery pack, charging system including the battery pack, and method of controlling the charging system
A battery pack, a charging system including the battery pack, and a method of controlling the charging system are disclosed. The battery pack includes a plurality of rechargeable battery cells and a protection circuit for protecting the battery cells. The protection circuit includes an analog front end (AFE) integrated circuit (IC) and a microcomputer. The AFE IC is for supplying an operating voltage of a microcomputer to the microcomputer and to a charging device. Thus, when the battery pack is charged, an abnormal operation of the AFE IC can be detected by the charging device and the charging of the battery pack stopped, thereby preventing an explosion of the battery pack. |
| US08669737B2 |
Courtesy light for an electrical charging system
An electrical charging system is provided, and includes a voltage supply and a conductive coupling element. The conductive coupling element includes a pilot circuit, a resistance element, a light-emitting diode (“LED”), and a switching element. The pilot circuit has a primary control contact and a ground contact. The pilot circuit is configured to be in communication with and receive voltage from the voltage supply. The pilot circuit is configured for supplying a control pilot voltage. The resistance element is electrically connected to the ground contact. The resistance element includes a resistance value. The LED is electrically connected to the resistance element and the ground contact, and has a forward voltage drop. The switching element is actuated to selectively connect the resistance element and the LED element to the primary control contact. |
| US08669736B2 |
Fast charging system and method with multiple selectable voltage levels
A system and method include detecting whether a fast charger module is coupled to a system having a processor and a memory device. If the fast charger module is coupled to the system, a fast charging current is provided from the fast charger module at multiple selectable voltage levels via an internal charger. If the fast charger module is not detected as coupled to the system, a charging current is provided from an AC adapter via the internal charger. |
| US08669734B2 |
Control device and control method for motor
A control device divides 360° corresponding to one cycle of a resolver angle into N zones, and determines whether or not a resolver angle θ in the current cycle exceeds a division border. When determined that resolver angle θ in the current cycle exceeds a division border, the control device calculates a time difference ΔT[n] between a calculation time T[n] in the immediately preceding resolver cycle and a calculation time T in the current cycle. The control device also calculates a resolver angle variation Δθ[n] with time difference ΔT[n] by adding 360° to the difference between resolver angle θ obtained in the current cycle and a resolver angle θ[n] obtained in the immediately preceding resolver cycle. The control device then calculates a rotation speed NM by multiplying, by a coefficient K, a value obtained by dividing Δθ[n] by ΔT[n]. |
| US08669733B2 |
Engine power supply circuit, and flight control member provided with such a circuit
A power supply circuit for an electric motor, the circuit comprising a plurality of inverter bridge arms, each having means for connection to a respective winding of the motor, each inverter bridge arm comprising in series a first insulated gate bipolar transistor and a junction field effect transistor that are connected to a controller, the circuit including a second insulated gate bipolar transistor connected in series with each field effect transistor and connected to the controller, and a damping resistor connected in parallel with the second bipolar transistor. An aircraft flight control member including a movable airfoil associated with at least one drive motor connected to such a power supply circuit. |
| US08669732B2 |
Encoder for a printer and method
In one implementation, an encoder assembly for a printer includes: an encoder scale having indicators thereon for determining a printing parameter; an encoder sensor for sensing indicators on the scale; and a mechanism configured to alternately attach an encoder part (either the scale or the sensor) to the substrate and detach the encoder part from the substrate. In another implementation, a method includes: attaching an encoder part to a print substrate, the encoder part being either an encoder scale or an encoder sensor; the sensor sensing indicators on the scale while advancing the substrate with the encoder part attached; and detaching the encoder part from the substrate. |
| US08669729B2 |
Power converting apparatus for electric vehicle
A controller that controls ON/OFF of switching elements and opening/closing of an opening/closing unit based on currents detected by current detectors. The controller includes a fault detector that detects whether any of the switching elements has a short-circuit fault and outputs a signal indicating a detection result, an ON/OFF controller that sets one of the switching elements that constitutes a phase other than a first phase that involves the short-circuit fault to an ON operation state and outputs a signal for opening the opening/closing unit, and an opening/closing controller that opens an opening/closing unit connected to a third phase other than the first phase and the second phase in which one of the switching elements is set to the ON operation state by the ON/OFF controller. |
| US08669725B2 |
Fan control system capable of modulating a rotational speed of a fan and method thereof
A fan control system includes a host device including a detecting unit for detecting a component so as to generate a detecting signal. The host device further includes BIOS for storing relationship information between the detecting signal and a rotational speed of a fan and for generating a rotational signal according to the detecting signal and the relationship information. The fan control system further includes a fan device including a fan and a fan driving unit for driving the fan. The fan device further includes a rotational speed modulating unit for controlling the fan driving unit to drive the fan to rotate at a second rotational speed outside a first range when a first rotational speed corresponding to the rotational signal according to the relationship information is within the first range. |
| US08669722B2 |
Color temperature adjustment for LED lamps using switches
A light-emitting diode (LED) lamp includes a number of different color LEDs that can be turned on and off in different combinations using an external switch operable by a user. A user or a controller can adjust the color temperature of light output by the lamp. The color temperature change may be a user preference and can compensate for decreased phosphor efficiency over time. |
| US08669718B2 |
Lighting device and illumination apparatus using same
An LED lighting device includes: a power source unit for supplying the DC output voltage to a light-emitting diode; a control unit for adjusting the DC output voltage; and a control power source unit for supplying a control power to the control unit. The control power source unit generates the control power with the DC output voltage and has: a current-limiting resistor for limiting an electric current that flows from the power source unit to the control unit; a constant voltage unit for converting a voltage to be applied to the control unit through the current-limiting resistor unit to a constant voltage; and a switching unit for switching a resistance value of the current-limiting resistor unit among a plurality of resistance values. |
| US08669716B2 |
Wireless light bulb
The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that employ a control component integrated in a light bulb to control the light bulb wirelessly. The wireless light bulb can include a light source, a control component that manages operation of the light source, an input component that wirelessly obtains input signals that can be utilized by the control component, and a power source. For instance, the light source can be one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) and/or the power source can be one or more batteries. Moreover, the input component can receive the input signals (e.g., radio frequency, infrared, . . . ) from a remote control, a sensor, a differing wireless light bulb, a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag, etc. Further, the wireless light bulb can be mechanically coupled to a lighting fixture, where the lighting fixture may or may not be electrically coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source. |
| US08669714B2 |
Method for dimming a light-emitting diode arrangement of a motor vehicle
The invention concerns a process to dim a light emitting diode device of a motor vehicle. In order to keep changes of the light intensity from being noticeable, they must be appropriately small. Electronic dimmers with pulse width modulation have historically required a microcontroller with a pulse width modulation generator with at least 10 bits. In order to use cheaper controllers, the invention proposes that the pulse width signal be modulated as a function of a variable on-period and a simultaneously variable period length. |
| US08669711B2 |
Dynamic-headroom LED power supply
A voltage level supplied to power a plurality of LED light fixtures is dynamically adjusted to control the headroom of the voltage level. The current drawn by at least one of the plurality of LED light fixtures is monitored, and the voltage is increased from zero until the monitored current reaches its maximum. |
| US08669710B2 |
LED module and LED light string using the same
The present invention provides an LED module and an LED light string using the same. The LED module has an input terminal, an output terminal, a primary LED, a spare LED and a switching module. The switching module controls the spare LED to be switched off while the primary LED is switched on; and controls the spare LED to be switched on while the primary LED is burned out. Hence, the present invention extends a service life of the LED light string using the LED modules in the backlight module. |
| US08669709B2 |
Solid state lighting driver with THDi bypass circuit
A solid state lighting driver and system having a total harmonic distortion (“THDi”) bypass circuit is disclosed. The solid state driver energizes a solid state lamp having a first lighting segment serially connected to a second lighting segment. The THDi bypass circuit bypasses a first lighting segment and energizes a second lighting segment of LEDs when the driving voltage is low. As a result, the solid state lamp will emit light over a larger portion of the power cycle and will decrease the THDi. |
| US08669708B2 |
Illuminance sensor setting device
An illuminance sensor setting device includes: an illuminance sensor that outputs a signal for switching a lighting apparatus, and a setting unit that performs setting of the illuminance sensor. The illuminance sensor and the setting unit are provided separately from each other, and are connected to signal lines. The setting unit has a configuration to set a sensor address of the sensor, a control address of the lighting apparatus, and an illuminance reference for switching the lighting apparatus. The setting unit transmits to the signal line the setting signal and the sensor address. Thus, even if the illuminance sensor is provided on, for example, the ceiling in the vicinity of the lighting apparatus, the setting unit can be provided at any place, such as a wall, where the setting unit can be easily operated, and work for settings is facilitated. |
| US08669707B2 |
Electronic control gear for operating at least one LED and/or at least one discharge lamp
An electronic control gear for operating at least one of at least one LED and at least one discharge lamp is provided. It may include a first terminal for coupling to a phase of an AC voltage supply; a second terminal for coupling to the neutral conductor of the AC voltage supply; a control input for coupling in a control signal of a control apparatus; a first output for coupling to the LED; a second output for coupling to the discharge lamp; a first driver circuit for the LED; a second driver circuit for the discharge lamp; an evaluation apparatus for evaluating the control signal at the control input, the evaluation apparatus comprising a microcontroller, which activates said driver circuits depending on the control signal, wherein a first capacitance is coupled between the second terminal and the control input. |
| US08669704B2 |
LED light source and lamp comprising such a LED light source
A LED light source comprises: a first rectifier with a first and a second input terminal for connection to an AC supply voltage source and a first and a second output terminal connected by a first LED-string, a second rectifier having a first and a second input terminal and output terminals, said first input terminal of said second rectifier being coupled to the first input terminal of the first rectifier and the second input terminal of the second rectifier being coupled to the second input terminal of the first rectifier, and the output terminals being connected by a second LED-string, and means for causing a phase shift between the voltages that are present during operation at the output terminals of the first rectifier and the output terminals of the second rectifier respectively. The LED strings are driven by very simple circuitry that can be supplied by mains supply voltage. Due to the phase shift stroboscopic effects are suppressed. |
| US08669702B2 |
Lighting device
A highly reliable lighting device is provided at low cost by using a simple structure and a simple process. A lighting device with improved convenience, which has a shape suitable for a purpose and can respond to diversified applications is provided. A light-emitting panel which includes a light-emitting element provided over a flexible substrate and including an electroluminescent (EL) layer (the panel is also referred to as an “EL film”) is put in a glass housing. The EL film is flexible and thus can be provided in a variety of forms in accordance with the shape of the glass housing. |
| US08669701B2 |
Organic EL element array
An organic EL element array is provided which can more easily be produced with a high aperture ratio and a high definition and in which light-emitting layers of organic EL elements adjacent to each other in an interpixel region mutually overlap in the interpixel region. |
| US08669697B2 |
Cooling large arrays with high heat flux densities
A lighting module includes an array of light emitters, a heat pipe having a flat portion, the array of light emitters being mounted to the flat portion, a liquid inside the heat pipe, the liquid selected to vaporize upon exposure to heat from the array, and a cooling unit thermally coupled to the heat pipe configured to cool the vaporized liquid. |
| US08669694B2 |
Multi-layer electronic component and method for manufacturing the same
A multi-layer electronic component that can be repetitively operated under high voltage, high temperature and high humidity is provided.The multi-layer electronic component comprises a plurality of dielectric material layers made of a sintered material having perovskite structure that includes Pb; and a plurality of internal electrodes, the dielectric material layers and the internal electrodes being stacked alternately one on another, wherein lead compound that remains in the crystal grain boundaries of the dielectric material layers is controlled so that the number of grains of the lead compound not smaller than 0.01 μm are 2 or less per 100 μm2 on average. |
| US08669686B2 |
Rotor and method of manufacturing the rotor
A rotor of the invention includes a core made of laminated steel sheets and formed with a rotation-transmitting-member mounting end face (a wall surface of a through hole for shaft) extending over a lamination direction and a rotation transmitting member (a shaft) mounted to the rotation-transmitting-member mounting end face of the core. The core is formed with a welding end face (a wall surface of a through hole for welding) extending over the lamination direction and in a position adjacent to a rotation-transmitting-member mounting end face. A welded trace is formed in the welding end face, extending to the rotation transmitting member and over the lamination direction of the core. The invention can easily achieve size reduction and weight reduction of a rotary machine and manufacture a rotor in the reduced number of working processes. |
| US08669683B2 |
Winding frame with magmate and stator core with the same
The present invention relates to a stator core including at least two or more stator core-continuous bodies each formed by coupling at least two or more unit cores to each other, each unit core consisting of a tooth portion having a coupling slot and a coupling projection formed along both ends thereof and connected to adjacent unit core by means of a connection portion formed at each of both end portions of the tooth portion, wherein the at least two or more stator core-continuous bodies are fitting-connected to each other by means of the coupling slots formed at one side ends thereof and the coupling projections formed at the other side ends thereof to form the stator core having a round shape. |
| US08669679B2 |
Linear vibrator
There is provided a linear vibrator, including: a fixed part providing an interior space having a predetermined size; at least one magnet disposed in the interior space and generating magnetic force; a vibration part including a coil facing the magnet and generating electromagnetic force through interaction with the magnet and a mass body; and an elastic member coupled to the fixed part and the vibration part to mediate vibrations of the vibration part and having a damping increasing portion attached to a predetermined region of a surface thereof. |
| US08669678B2 |
Wireless power feeder, wireless power receiver, and wireless power transmission system
A wireless power feeder which performs power feed by a non-contact method to a wireless power receiver having a power receive coil, this wireless power feeder having a power feed coil; and a control circuit having a phase delay device which generates a delayed AC voltage where the phase of the output AC voltage is delayed; a magnetic sensor biased by the delayed AC voltage and detects a magnetic field generated by power receive coil; phase detection circuits which generate phase difference instruction voltages corresponding to a phase difference between an output voltage from the magnetic sensor and a comparison voltage, on the basis of the output voltage and the comparison voltage; and AC current generation circuits which generate the output AC voltage having a frequency based on the phase difference instruction voltage, and generate the AC current having a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the output AC voltage. |
| US08669676B2 |
Wireless energy transfer across variable distances using field shaping with magnetic materials to improve the coupling factor
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a method and system comprising a first resonator coupled to an energy source generating a field having magnetic material, and a second resonator located a variable distance from the source resonator having magnetic material and not connected by any wire or shared magnetic material to the first resonator, where the source resonator and the second resonator are coupled to provide near-field wireless energy transfer among the source resonator and the second resonator, and where the field of at least one of the source resonator and the second resonator is shaped using magnetic materials to increase the coupling factor among the resonators. |
| US08669673B2 |
Power supply controller
A power supply control section calculates a target charge/discharge current of a secondary power supply apparatus based on an actual charged amount and a target charged amount of the secondary power supply apparatus, and feedback-controls the stepped-up voltage of a step-up circuit such that an actual charge/discharge current detected by a secondary current sensor coincides with a target charge/discharge current. When the actual charged amount (1) is equal to or greater than the target charged amount, the target charge/discharge current is set to zero to prevent overcharging, and (2) is less than the target charged amount, a target charge current corresponding to a capacity margin of the step-up circuit is set to quickly charge the secondary power supply apparatus. When the output of the step-up circuit has no margin, the target charge/discharge current is set to zero. |
| US08669671B2 |
Hydraulic wind farms for grid electricity and desalination
Pressurized hydraulic flow created in wind farms with wind driven pumps (wind-pumps) used for rated electric power production by means of hydraulic motors, or turbines, of constant speed and variable torque which actuate alternately and/or simultaneously rated electric generators as function of wind power availability. Use of positive displacement pumps driven by rotors of fixed pitch blades for maximum capture of wind power enables the attainment tip-speed-ratio of rotors in the range of high power coefficient by means of the pressurized hydraulic flow of the wind farms. Another application of wind farms with wind driven pumps is for the creation of variable hydraulic flow of fixed pressure as function wind power availability which may be used for water elevation as well as for the desalination of salt water solutions by reverse osmosis. |
| US08669667B1 |
Method for generating electricity
An electrical generating method is provided that generates electricity when bending of a first flexible plurality of conductors, a second flexible plurality of conductors and a flexible magnetic field source causes movement of the conductors relative to a magnetic field provided by the magnetic field source. |
| US08669666B2 |
Method of processing a contact pad, method of manufacturing a contact pad, and integrated circuit element
An integrated circuit includes a substrate. A surface region of the substrate includes a contact pad region. A passivation layer stack includes at least one passivation layer. The passivation layer stack is formed over the surface region and adjacent to the contact pad region. An upper portion of the passivation layer stack is removed in, in a portion of the passivation layer stack proximate the contact pad region. |
| US08669665B2 |
Flip-chip mounting substrate and flip-chip mounting method
A solder resist and a central pad to which a central Au bump provided on a semiconductor chip is flip-chip bonded are formed on a substrate main body. In a flip-chip mounting substrate where an underfill resin is provided after the semiconductor chip is mounted, a central opening portion for exposing the central pad is formed in the solder resist, and also, an edge portion forming the central opening portion of the solder resist is partially overlapped with the outer peripheral portion of the central pad. |
| US08669663B2 |
Wiring over substrate, semiconductor device, and methods for manufacturing thereof
A wiring over a substrate capable of reducing particles between wirings and a method for manufacturing the wiring is disclosed. A wiring over a substrate capable of preventing short-circuiting between wirings due to big difference in projection and depression between wirings and a method for manufacturing the wiring is also disclosed. Further, a wiring over a substrate capable of preventing cracks in the insulating layer due to stress at the edge of a wiring or particles and a method for manufacturing the wiring is also disclosed. According to the present invention, a method for manufacturing a wiring over a substrate is provided that comprises the steps of: forming a first conductive layer over an insulating surface; forming a first mask pattern over the first conductive layer; forming a second mask pattern by etching the first mask pattern under a first condition, simultaneously, forming a second conductive layer having a side having an angle of inclination cross-sectionally by etching the first conductive layer; and forming a third conductive layer and a third mask pattern by etching the second conductive layer and the second mask pattern under a second condition; wherein a selective ratio under the first condition of the first conductive layer to the first mask pattern is in a range of 0.25 to 4, and a selective ratio under the second condition of the second conductive layer to the second mask pattern is larger than that under the first condition. |
| US08669657B2 |
Stackable semiconductor assemblies and methods of manufacturing such assemblies
Stacked semiconductor devices and assemblies including attached lead frames are disclosed herein. One embodiment of a method of manufacturing a semiconductor assembly includes forming a plurality of first side trenches to a first intermediate depth in a molded portion of a molded wafer having a plurality of dies arranged in rows and columns. The method also includes forming a plurality of lateral contacts at sidewall portions of the trenches and electrically connecting first side bond-sites of the dies with corresponding lateral contacts of the trenches. The method further includes forming a plurality of second side channels to a second intermediate depth in the molded portion such that the channels intersect the trenches. The method also includes singulating and stacking the first and second dies with the channels associated with the first die aligned with channels associated with the second die. |
| US08669655B2 |
Chip package and a method for manufacturing a chip package
A chip package is provided, the chip package including: a chip including at least one contact pad formed on a chip front side; an encapsulation material at least partially surrounding the chip and covering the at least one contact pad; and at least one electrical interconnect formed through the encapsulation material, wherein the at least one electrical interconnect is configured to electrically redirect the at least one contact pad from a chip package first side at the chip front side to at least one solder structure formed over a chip package second side at a chip back side. |
| US08669647B2 |
Method for semiconductor leadframes in low volume and rapid turnaround
A leadframe for a QFN/SON semiconductor device comprising a strip of a first metal as the leadframe core with a plurality of leads and a pad. a layer of a second metal over both surfaces of the strip. There are sidewalls normal to the surfaces. The first metal exposed at the sidewalls and at portions of a surface of the pad. |
| US08669642B2 |
Semiconductor chip and fabricating method thereof
A semiconductor chip includes a substrate having a front surface and a back surface opposite the front surface, a conductive column part passing through the substrate from the front surface to the back surface, a cavity formed by removing a part of the back surface around an end portion of the conductive column part such that the end portion of the conductive column part protrudes from the cavity, a first insulation layer formed in the cavity such that a portion of the end portion of the conductive column part is exposed, and a back electrode electrically connected to the exposed end portion of the conductive column part. |
| US08669639B2 |
Semiconductor element, manufacturing method thereof and operating method thereof
A semiconductor element, a manufacturing method thereof and an operating method thereof are provided. The semiconductor element includes a substrate, a first well, a second well, a third well, a fourth well, a bottom layer, a first heavily doping region, a second heavily doping region, a third heavily doping region and a field plane. The first well, the bottom layer and the second well surround the third well for floating the third well and the substrate. The first, the second and the third heavily doping regions are disposed in the first, the second and the third wells respectively. The field plate is disposed above a junction between the first well and the fourth well. |
| US08669635B2 |
Electrically conductive nanocomposite material and thermoelectric device comprising the material
An electrically conductive composite material that includes an electrically conductive polymer, and at least one metal nanoparticle coated with a protective agent, wherein said protective agent includes a compound having a first part that has at least part of the molecular backbone of said electrically conductive polymer and a second part that interacts with said at least one metal nanoparticle. |
| US08669632B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and method for manufacturing the same
A solid-state imaging device and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The solid-state imaging device includes a structure that provides a high sensitivity and high resolution without variations in spectral sensitivity and without halation of colors, and prevents light from penetrating into an adjacent pixel portion. A plurality of photodiodes are formed inside a semiconductor substrate. A wiring layer includes a laminated structure of an insulating film and a wire and is formed on the semiconductor substrate. A plurality of color filters are formed individually in a manner corresponding to the plurality of photodiodes above the wiring layer. A planarized film and a microlens are sequentially laminated on each of the color filters. In the solid-state imaging device, each of the color filters has an refraction index higher than that of the planarized film and has, in a Z-axis direction, an upper surface in a concave shape. |
| US08669631B2 |
Solid state imaging device having a back surface impurity layer
A solid state imaging device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate with a solid state imaging element, a first impurity layer, a plurality of external electrodes, and a translucent substrate. The first impurity layer is formed on a back surface side of the substrate, and forms a pn junction with the substrate. The plurality of external electrodes is formed on the back surface of the substrate and is electrically connected to the solid state imaging element. The translucent substrate is fixed to the substrate. |
| US08669625B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device and electronic equipment
A photoelectric conversion device provided with an electron transport layer having an excellent electron transport ability and having an excellent photoelectric conversion efficiency, and electronic equipment provided with such a photoelectric conversion device and having a high reliability are provided. A solar cell, to which the photoelectric conversion device is applied, has a first electrode provided on a substrate, a second electrode arranged opposite to the first electrode and retained on a facing substrate, an electron transport layer provided between these electrodes and positioned on the side of the first electrode, a dye layer being in contact with the electron transport layer, and an electrolyte layer provided between the electron transport layer and the second electrode and being in contact with the dye layer. The electron transport layer is constituted of a monocrystalline material of multiple oxide as a main component thereof. Further, it is preferred that the monocrystalline material of multiple oxide has a layer structure in a crystal structure thereof. |
| US08669620B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device is provided, which includes a circuit including a first MOS transistor having a gate connected to a first signal line, a second MOS transistor having a gate connected to a second signal line, and the circuit outputting an output signal according to a difference in potential between the first signal line and the second signal line, wherein channel regions of the first and second MOS transistors include no maximum impurity concentration at an area, which is shallower than a depth indicating a maximum concentration of one conduction type impurity that forms source and drain regions of the MOS transistors. |
| US08669619B2 |
Semiconductor structure with multi-layer contact etch stop layer structure
A semiconductor device structure includes a substrate having a transistor thereon; a multi-layer contact etching stop layer (CESL) structure covering the transistor, the multi-layer CESL structure comprising a first CESL and a second CESL; and a dielectric layer on the second CESL. The first CESL is made of a material different from that of the second CESL, and the second CESL is made of a material different from that of the dielectric layer. |
| US08669617B2 |
Multi-gate transistors
Provided are devices having at least three and at least four different types of transistors wherein the transistors are distinguished at least by the thicknesses and or compositions of the gate dielectric regions. Methods for making devices having three and at least four different types of transistors that are distinguished at least by the thicknesses and or compositions of the gate dielectric regions are also provided. |
| US08669616B2 |
Method for forming N-shaped bottom stress liner
Semiconductor devices with n-shaped bottom stress liners are formed. Embodiments include forming a protuberance on a substrate, conformally forming a sacrificial material layer over the protuberance, forming a gate stack above the sacrificial material layer on a silicon layer, removing the sacrificial material layer to form a tunnel, and forming a stress liner in the tunnel conforming to the shape of the protuberance. Embodiments further include forming a silicon layer over the sacrificial material layer and lining the tunnel with a passivation layer prior to forming the stress liner. |
| US08669609B2 |
Non-volatile memory (NVM) cell for endurance and method of making
A first dielectric is formed over a semiconductor layer, a first gate layer over the first dielectric, a second dielectric over the first gate layer, and a third dielectric over the second dielectric. An etch is performed to form a first sidewall of the first gate layer. A second etch is performed to remove portions of the first dielectric between the semiconductor layer and the first gate layer to expose a bottom corner of the first gate layer and to remove portions of the second dielectric between the first gate layer and the third dielectric layer to expose a top corner of the first gate layer. An oxide is grown on the first sidewall and around the top and bottom corners to round the corners. The oxide is then removed. A charge storage layer and second gate layer is formed over the third dielectric layer and overlapping the first sidewall. |
| US08669608B2 |
Method for manufacturing nonvolatile semiconductor storage device and nonvolatile semiconductor storage device
According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes; forming a first and a second stacked bodies; forming a through hole penetrating through the first stacked body, a second portion communicating with the first portion and penetrating through a select gate, and a third portion communicating with the second portion and penetrating through a second insulating layer; forming a memory film, a gate insulating film, and a channel body; forming a third insulating layer inside the channel body; forming a first embedded portion above a boundary portion inside the third portion; exposing the channel body by removing part of the first embedded portion and part of the third insulating layer in the third portion; and embedding a second embedded portion including silicon having higher impurity concentration than the first embedded portion above the first embedded portion inside the third portion. |
| US08669605B2 |
Semiconductor device and arrangement method of compensation capacitor of semiconductor device
A semiconductor device comprises a circuit cell and a basic end cell. The circuit cell includes a plurality of elements aligned in a first direction, and the basic end cell is arranged adjacent to the circuit cell in the first direction and has a compensation capacitor capable of being connected to a supply voltage of the circuit cell. In the semiconductor device, a diffusion layer forming the compensation capacitor extends along the first direction in a predetermined region of the circuit cell. |
| US08669604B2 |
Electronic device including a nonvolatile memory cell
An electronic device can include a nonvolatile memory cell that includes a capacitor, a tunnel structure, a state transistor, and an access transistor. In an embodiment, the capacitor and tunnel structure can include upper electrodes, wherein the upper electrode of the capacitor has a first conductivity type, and the upper electrode of the tunnel structure includes at least a portion that has a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. In another embodiment, a process of forming the nonvolatile memory is performed using a single poly process. In a further embodiment, charge carriers can tunnel through a gate dielectric layer of the state transistor during programming and tunnel through a tunnel dielectric of the tunnel transistor during erasing. |
| US08669602B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, manufacturing method thereof, and electronic apparatus
Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging device including: a laminated semiconductor chip configured to be obtained by bonding two or more semiconductor chip sections to each other and be obtained by bonding at least a first semiconductor chip section in which a pixel array and a multilayer wiring layer are formed and a second semiconductor chip section in which a logic circuit and a multilayer wiring layer are formed to each other in such a manner that the multilayer wiring layers are opposed to each other and are electrically connected to each other; and a light blocking layer configured to be formed by an electrically-conductive film of the same layer as a layer of a connected interconnect of one or both of the first and second semiconductor chip sections near bonding between the first and second semiconductor chip sections. The solid-state imaging device is a back-illuminated solid-state imaging device. |
| US08669595B2 |
Integrated circuit including cross-coupled transistors having gate electrodes formed within gate level feature layout channels with gate contact position, alignment, and offset specifications
A semiconductor device includes conductive features that are each defined within any one gate level channel that is uniquely associated with and defined along one of a number of parallel gate electrode tracks. The conductive features form gate electrodes of first and second PMOS transistor devices, and first and second NMOS transistor devices. The gate electrodes of the first PMOS, second PMOS, first NMOS, and second NMOS transistor devices respectively extend along different gate electrode tracks. A first set of interconnected conductors electrically connect the gate electrodes of the first PMOS and second NMOS transistor devices. A second set of interconnected conductors electrically connect the gate electrodes of the second PMOS and first NMOS transistor devices. The first and second sets of interconnected conductors traverse across each other within different levels of the semiconductor device. |
| US08669593B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit according to the present invention includes an I/O cell, a first PAD connected to the I/O cell, first and second PADs, a package wire which is connected to the first PAD and allows connection between the first PAD and an outside of the semiconductor integrated circuit, and a second package wire which is connected to the second PAD and allows connection between the second PAD and an outside of the semiconductor integrated circuit. A connection point between the first PAD and the fist package wire is located in an area where the I/O cell is placed. A connection point between the second PAD and the second package wire is located outside an area where the I/O cell is placed. |
| US08669587B2 |
Vertical topology light emitting device
A vertical topology light emitting device comprises a support structure, a first adhesion layer, a second adhesion layer, a first metal layer, a second metal layer comprising a portion which directly contacts a GaN-based semiconductor structure, an interface layer, and a contact pad. |
| US08669585B1 |
LED that has bounding silicon-doped regions on either side of a strain release layer
A strain release layer adjoining the active layer in a blue LED is bounded on the bottom by a first relatively-highly silicon-doped region and is also bounded on the top by a second relatively-highly silicon-doped region. The second relatively-highly silicon-doped region is a sublayer of the active layer of the LED. The first relatively-highly silicon-doped region is a sublayer of the N-type layer of the LED. The first relatively-highly silicon-doped region is also separated from the remainder of the N-type layer by an intervening sublayer that is only lightly doped with silicon. The silicon doping profile promotes current spreading and high output power (lumens/watt). The LED has a low reverse leakage current and a high ESD breakdown voltage. The strain release layer has a concentration of indium that is between 5×1019 atoms/cm3 and 5×102° atoms/cm3, and the first and second relatively-highly silicon-doped regions have silicon concentrations that exceed 1×1018 atoms/cm3. |
| US08669581B2 |
Light emitting device package including UV light emitting diode
Provided is a light emitting device package, which includes a ceramic body, an ultraviolet light emitting diode, a support member, and a glass film. The ceramic body defines a cavity. The ultraviolet light emitting diode is disposed within the cavity. The support member is disposed on the body, and surrounds the cavity. The glass film is coupled to the support member, and covers the cavity. Since the light emitting device package includes the ceramic body to efficiently dissipate heat, and the glass film is directly attached to the ceramic body to decrease the number of components, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process thereof, and reducing the manufacturing costs thereof. |
| US08669580B2 |
Scalable heat dissipating microelectronic integration platform (SHDMIP) for lighting solutions and method of manufacturing thereof
The present invention provides a Scalable Heat Dissipating Microelectronic Integration Platform (SHDMIP) LED Package having excellent heat dissipation and protection to LED, thus extending the lifespan of the LED. The SHDMIP LED package comprises a dual lead frame assembly comprising bottom and top lead frame, protection and driver circuits conductively attached to the bottom lead frame and a LED conductively attached to the top lead frame. The bottom lead frame comprises heat sink pad for heat dissipation purpose. Plurality of SHDMIP LED packages of the present invention can be configured in a matrix or row, forming a SHDMIP LED array for various lighting solutions. A method to manufacture the SHDMIP LED array of the present invention is provided herein. |
| US08669578B2 |
Wavelength conversion particle, wavelength conversion member using same, and light emitting device
A wavelength conversion particle 7 used for a wavelength conversion member 70 is provided with a moth-eye structure section 74 having a fine concavo-convex structure in the side of a surface of a fluorescent particle 71, and the fine concavo-convex structure is formed in fluorescent particle 71 itself. Wavelength conversion member 70 is formed by dispersing wave-length conversion particle(s) 7 into a translucent medium 73 having a smaller refraction index than fluorescent particle 71 of wavelength conver-sion particle 7. Wavelength conversion member 70 is further provided with an antireflection section 76 in the side of the surface of fluorescent particle 71. Antireflection section 76 comprises moth-eye structure section 74 and translucent medium 73 entered between taper-shaped fine projections 75 of moth-eye structure section 74. In a light emitting device 1, wavelength conversion member 70 is used as a color conversion member converting a part of light emitted from a LED chip 10 into light having a longer wave-length than the light emitted from LED chip 10 and emitting the converted light. |
| US08669575B2 |
Light emitting module, method of manufacturing the light emitting module, and lamp unit
In a light emitting module 40, light wavelength conversion ceramic 58 converts the wavelength of the light emitted by a semiconductor light emitting element 52. The light wavelength conversion ceramic 58 is made so transparent that the light wavelength conversion ceramic 58 has 40 percent or more of the total light transmittance of the light with a wavelength within the conversion wavelength range. A reflective film 60 is provided on the surface of the light wavelength conversion ceramic 58 and narrows down the emission area of the light that has transmitted the light wavelength conversion ceramic 58 to an area smaller than the light emitting area of the semiconductor light emitting element 52. In the case, the reflective film 60 guides the light such that the light is emitted in the direction approximately parallel to the light emitting surface of the light emitting element 52. |
| US08669574B2 |
Nanostructured LED
The device according to the invention comprises a nanostructured LED with a first group of nanowires protruding from a first area of a substrate and a contacting means in a second area of the substrate. Each nanowire of the first group of nanowires comprises a p-i-n junction and a top portion of each nanowire or at least one selection of nanowires is covered with a light-reflecting contact layer. The contacting means of the second area is in electrical contact with the bottom of the nanowires, the light-reflecting contact layer being in electrical contact with the contacting means of the second area via the p-i-n junction. Thus when a voltage is applied between the contacting means of the second area and the light-reflecting contact layer, light is generated within the nanowire. On top of the light-reflecting contact layer, a first group of contact pads for flip-chip bonding can be provided, distributed and separated to equalize the voltage across the layer to reduce the average serial resistance. |
| US08669573B2 |
Packaged semiconductor light emitting devices having multiple optical elements
Methods of packaging a semiconductor light emitting device include providing a substrate having the semiconductor light emitting device on a front face thereof. A first optical element is formed from a first material on the front face proximate the semiconductor light emitting device but not covering the semiconductor light emitting device and a second optical element is formed from a second material, different from the first material, over the semiconductor light emitting device and the first optical element. Packaged semiconductor light emitting devices are also provided. |
| US08669563B2 |
Light emitting devices having roughened/reflective contacts and methods of fabricating same
Light emitting devices include an active region of semiconductor material and a first contact on the active region. The first contact is configured such that photons emitted by the active region pass through the first contact. A photon absorbing wire bond pad is provided on the first contact. The wire bond pad has an area less than the area of the first contact. A reflective structure is disposed between the first contact and the wire bond pad such that the reflective structure has substantially the same area as the wire bond pad. A second contact is provided opposite the active region from the first contact. The reflective structure may be disposed only between the first contact and the wire bond pad. Methods of fabricating such devices are also provided. |
| US08669561B2 |
High-voltage semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a first conductivity type semiconductor layer that is formed on the substrate and is made of silicon carbide; an active area formed on a surface of the semiconductor layer; a first semiconductor area of a second conductivity type formed on the surface of the semiconductor layer to surround the active area; a second semiconductor area, provided to adjoin an outer side of the first semiconductor area on the surface of the semiconductor layer and surround the first semiconductor area, in which a second conductivity type impurity area having the same impurity concentration and the same depth as those of the first semiconductor area is formed in a mesh shape; a first electrode provided on the active area; and a second electrode provided on the rear surface of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08669558B2 |
Pixel structure and electrical bridging structure
A pixel structure includes a thin film transistor device, an insulating layer disposed on the thin film transistor device, and a pixel electrode disposed on the insulating layer. The thin film transistor device includes a floating conductive pad disposed at one side of a semiconductor layer, and electrically connected to a source/drain electrode. The insulating layer has a first contact hole partially exposing the floating conductive pad. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the floating conductive pad via the first contact hole. |
| US08669551B2 |
Transistor including insertion layer and channel layer with different work functions and method of manufacturing the same
A transistor according to example embodiments may include a channel layer, a source and a drain respectively contacting ends of the channel layer, a gate electrode separated from the channel layer, a gate insulating layer interposed between the channel layer and the gate electrode, and/or an insertion layer that is formed between the channel layer and the gate insulating layer. The insertion layer may have a work function different from that of the channel layer. |
| US08669549B2 |
Method of manufacturing laminated body and laminated body
A laminated body includes a lower electrode formed on a substrate and a basic insulating film which is formed above the lower electrode and covers the lower electrode on the substrate, in which the lower electrode has a film thickness reduction section in which the film thickness of the lower electrode in a portion which is not covered by the basic insulating film is smaller than the film thickness of the lower electrode in a portion which is covered by the basic insulating film in the lower electrode. |
| US08669546B2 |
Nitride group semiconductor light emitting device including multiquantum well structure
A nitride group semiconductor light emitting device includes a substrate, n-type and p-type semiconductor layers, and an active region. The n-type and p-type semiconductor layers are formed on or above the substrate. The active region is interposed between the n-type and p-type semiconductor layers. The active region includes barrier layers that are included in a multiquantum well structure, and an end barrier layer that has a thickness greater than the barrier layer, and is arranged closest to the p-type semiconductor layer. The average thickness of the last two barrier layers that are arranged adjacent to the end barrier layer is smaller than the average thickness of the other barrier layers among the thicknesses of the barrier layers that are included in the multiquantum well structure. |
| US08669543B2 |
System and method for generating extreme ultraviolet light, and laser apparatus
An extreme ultraviolet light generation system used with a laser apparatus may be provided, and the extreme ultraviolet light generation system may include: a chamber including at least one window for at least one laser beam and a target supply unit for supplying a target material into the chamber; and at least one polarization control unit, provided on a laser beam path, for controlling a polarization state of the at least one laser beam. |
| US08669532B2 |
Evaluating a cleaning solution using UV absorbance
A process for evaluating a cleaning solution is described. The process includes: (a) subjecting a solution, including a solute and a solvent, to sonic energy to create a sonicated solution; (b) measuring UV absorption of the sonicated solution to produce a sample UV absorbance spectra; (c) obtaining a reference UV absorbance spectra; (d) scaling the reference UV absorbance spectra to the sample UV absorbance spectra at a lower range of the UV spectrum; (e) subtracting from the reference UV absorbance spectra the sample UV absorbance spectra to produce a differential UV spectra; and (f) evaluating at or near a peak of the sample UV absorbance spectra the differential UV absorbance spectra to determine whether the sonicated solution is activated. |
| US08669531B2 |
Radiographic imaging device, radiographic imaging method, and computer readable medium storing radiographic imaging program
A radiographic imaging device includes a plurality of pixels, each having a generation section that generates charges according to irradiated radiation, an accumulation section that accumulates charges generated by the generation section, and a switching element that reads out the charges accumulated in the accumulation section, and that outputs electrical signals corresponding to the charges. The device also includes an amplification section that amplifies the electrical signals output from the switching elements and a setting section that sets an amplification factor of the amplification section corresponding to the charges accumulated during an accumulation period, during which charges are accumulated, based on the electrical signals output from radiation detection pixels during the accumulation period. |
| US08669528B2 |
Flat panel detector
A flat panel radiation detector is disclosed, comprising a scintillator panel provided on a support with a phosphor layer comprising columnar crystals and a protective layer sequentially in this order, and the scintillator panel being coupled with a planar light receiving element having plural picture elements which are arranged two-dimensionally, in which the difference between to average void fraction of an edge portion of the phosphor layer and the average void fraction of a base portion is not less than 5% and not more than 25%, and the void fraction decreases from the base portion to the edge portion. There is provided a flat panel radiation detector with a phosphor layer which exhibits enhanced physical resistance to shock and is superior in sharpness and emission efficiency. |
| US08669527B2 |
Scintillator having phase separation structure and radiation detector using the same
Provided is a scintillator used for detecting radiation in an X-ray CT scanner or the like, the scintillator having a unidirectional phase separation structure having an optical waveguide function, which eliminates the need of formation of partition walls for preventing crosstalks. The scintillator has the phase separation structure including: a first crystal phase including multiple columnar crystals having unidirectionality; and a second crystal phase filling space on the side of the first crystal phase. The second crystal phase includes a material represented by Cs3Cu2[XaY1-a]5, where X and Y are elements which are different from each other and which are selected from the group consisting of I, Br, and Cl, and 0≦a≦1 is satisfied. |
| US08669525B2 |
Sample inspection methods, systems and components
The disclosure relates to sample inspection using an ion-beam microscope. In some embodiments, the disclosure involves the use of multiple detectors, each of which provides different information about a sample. |
| US08669523B2 |
Contour-based defect detection using an inspection apparatus
One embodiment relates to a method of inspecting a site location on a target substrate. Contours are obtained, the contours having been generated from a reference image using a design clip. A target image of the site location is acquired. The contours are aligned to the target image, and contrast values are computed for pixels on the contours. A threshold is applied to the contrast values to determine contour-based defect blobs. Another embodiment relates to a method of generating contours for use in inspecting a site location for defects. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed. |
| US08669520B2 |
Waveform generation for ion trap
An ion trap comprises a ring electrode and opposite first and second endcap electrodes situated at opposite ends of the ring electrode. A waveform generator is configured to vary both frequency and amplitude of an AC waveform applied across the first and second endcap electrodes as a function of time, thereby exciting ions with a band of resonant secular frequencies substantially without exciting ions with adjacent secular frequencies. |
| US08669516B2 |
Using LWT service to identify loss circulation areas in a wellbore
The present disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for evaluating an earth formation though a drillstring during tripping of the drillstring, particularly locating an area of circulation loss in a wellbore. The apparatus may include a neutron source and at least one radiation detector, which may be disposed on a logging instrument, configured to be dropped or pumped into a drillstring at the end of drilling. The logging instrument may be configured to make measurements through a homogenous portion of the drillstring while the drillstring is being tripped. The apparatus may include a memory and processor for logging data for later retrieval. The method may include adding a radiation absorbing substance to drilling fluid in the wellbore; exposing the earth formation to neutron radiation; and making a plurality of measurement indicative of radiation measurements of sigma or distinct energy peaks along the wellbore. |
| US08669514B2 |
Arrangement of sensors in a seed counting apparatus for a planter monitor
A counter for seeds in a duct includes a first point source transmitter on a first mounting on one side of the duct spaced outwardly from the duct so as to project light through a front wall and a set of phototransistors in a transverse row carried on a second mounting on a rear wall. The side walls of the duct lie on a triangle with an apex at the light source. The phototransistors are connected in series so that the output current is determined by that phototransistor on which the majority of the shadow from the seed falls. In this way the momentary reduction in current output has a larger amplitude to better distinguish from dust in the duct. The duct is formed by a housing attached to the peripheral wall of the metering device with a seed transport tube attached to the bottom of the housing. |
| US08669511B2 |
Device and method for determination of a charge amount on a capacitive element, and a device and method for setting a circuit node at a predetermined voltage
A pixel cell, and a method of use thereof, the pixel cell including: an output, a photosensor configured to generate a first measuring current in a first measurement cycle and a second measuring current in a second measurement cycle as a function of radiation, an output node, a power storage device configured so that in a first operating mode a current can be injected by the power storage device as a function of the first measuring current, and so that in a second operating mode the power storage device is configured to hold the injected current so that the injected current can be detected at the output node, and a switching unit configured to form a difference between the injected current and the second measuring current at the output node in a reading cycle and to couple the output node to the output. |
| US08669508B2 |
Sun-tracking system
A sun-locating apparatus includes a substrate, a mounting unit, a photo-detecting unit, an optical element and a cover. The mounting unit is provided on the substrate and formed with an upper aperture and a lower aperture in communication with the upper aperture. The photo-detecting unit is located in the lower aperture. The photo-detecting unit includes at least four photodiodes. The optical element is provided on the mounting unit for covering the upper aperture. The cover is provided on the substrate for covering the mounting unit, the photo-detecting unit and the optical element. |
| US08669505B2 |
System for guiding a projectile
The invention relates to a guidance system comprising estimation means able to estimate, in the course of flight, the attitude and the aerodynamic speed of a projectile, as well as the variations in the speed of the wind, on the basis of guidance orders formulated by guidance means of the guidance system, of a reference trajectory and of measurements obtained by measurement means of the system, using a model of the dynamic behavior of the projectile and a model of the dynamics of the wind. |
| US08669503B2 |
Warm window buss bar system and safety mechanism
Disclosed is a warm window system that utilizes individual buss bars that are placed within the space between an inside window pane and an outside window pane and creates sufficient physical force to create an electrical contact on the tin oxide layer on the inside surface of the inside pane of glass. The buss bars have a modulus of elasticity to ensure sufficient electrical contact with the tin oxide layer to prevent the formation of hot spots and securely hold the buss bars in place. Both a z buss bar and c buss bar are also disclosed that are capable of generating a sufficient amount of reactive force to create a secure contact with a tin oxide layer on the interior surface of an interior pane of glass in a warm window system to hold the buss bar in place and provide a large contact surface area to provide sufficient electrical contact with the tin oxide layer to prevent hot spots. A safety circuit is also disclosed that utilizes a controller that generates a control signal to apply the ac power signal to the warm window system in response to a low voltage dc signal that is applied to an isolated strip of conductive material on the inner pane of glass that detects if the glass is broken. The low voltage signal does not provide a shock hazard and safely detects the status of the inner pane of glass. |
| US08669498B2 |
Cooker
An enamel coating including a phosphate-based ingredient is provided on an inner surface of a cooking chamber and the inner surface of the cooking chamber is cleaned using high-temperature cleaning water. Therefore, the cleaning of the cooking chamber can be performed more efficiently. |
| US08669485B2 |
Reversal prevention of a stored energy mechanism in an electrical switching apparatus
A reversal prevention mechanism for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker, includes an actuator assembly pivotably coupled to the circuit breaker housing, a first stop element for controlling movement of the actuator assembly, a stop assembly pivotably coupled to the housing, and a second stop element for controlling movement of the stop assembly. The stored energy mechanism is movable among a charged position, a discharged position, and a contact touch position corresponding to a point at which the circuit breaker separable contacts make initial electrical contact. When the stored energy mechanism is disposed in the contact touch position, the stop assembly cooperates with the actuator assembly to prevent the stored energy mechanism from moving backwards. |
| US08669481B2 |
Laminated circuit board and board producing method
A laminated circuit board includes a first wiring board that has a first land formed on a surface thereof; a second wiring board that has a second land formed on a surface thereof; a bonding layer that is laid between the first wiring board and the second wiring board and electrically connects the first land and the second land via a conducting material; and a plate that has a through-hole through which the first land is connected to the second land, wherein a diameter of the through-hole of the plate is larger than a diameter of a component that is made by filling the conducting material. |
| US08669480B2 |
Wiring board and method of manufacturing wiring board
A wiring board and method of forming a wiring board including a first substrate, a second substrate having a smaller mounting area than a mounting area of the first substrate, and a base substrate laminated between the first substrate and the second substrate, such that the first substrate extends beyond an edge of the second substrate. An IVH (Interstitial Via Hole) or through hole penetrates the base substrate and vias are formed in at least one of the first substrate or the second substrate. |
| US08669478B2 |
Wiring substrate and method of manufacturing the same
A wiring substrate includes a first insulating layer formed as an outermost layer on one surface side, and exhibiting a black color or a gray color, a first connection pad formed to expose from the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer formed as an outermost layer on another surface side, and exhibiting a black color or a gray color, and a second connection pad formed to expose from the second insulating layer, wherein a connection hole having a side wall surface formed like a curved surface is formed in the second insulating layer, and the second connection pad is exposed to a bottom part of the connection hole. |
| US08669469B2 |
Cooling of high voltage devices
A high voltage bushing including an electrical conductor configured to be electrically connected to a high voltage device and configured to be connected to an external fluid cooling system, and an insulating body surrounding the electrical conductor. A method includes cooling the high voltage bushing by connecting the electrical conductor to an external fluid cooling system. |
| US08669468B2 |
Photoelectric conversion module
A photoelectric conversion module including a first substrate; a second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate in a first direction; a plurality of photoelectric cells between the first and second substrates, each including an electrolyte; and a sealing member between the first and second substrates, the sealing member surrounding the plurality of photoelectric cells and extending between adjacent photoelectric cells of the plurality of photoelectric cells, wherein the sealing member has at least one electrolyte injecting portion for receiving the electrolyte into the photoelectric cells. |
| US08669467B2 |
Thin absorber layer of a photovoltaic device
Methods and apparatus are provided for converting electromagnetic radiation, such as solar energy, into electric energy with increased efficiency when compared to conventional solar cells. In one embodiment of a photovoltaic (PV) device, the PV device generally includes an n-doped layer and a p+-doped layer adjacent to the n-doped layer to form a p-n layer such that electric energy is created when electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by the p-n layer. The n-doped layer and the p+-doped layer may compose an absorber layer having a thickness less than 500 nm. Such a thin absorber layer may allow for greater efficiency and flexibility in PV devices when compared to conventional solar cells. |
| US08669464B2 |
Thermophotovoltaic system
A thermophotovoltaic system is described. The thermophotovoltaic system includes a chamber body, an emitter, a filter and a photovoltaic cell. The chamber body has an ellipsoid chamber including a first focus and a second focus. The emitter is disposed on the first focus, and the emitter is suitable for emitting a plurality of electromagnetic waves. The filter is surrounding the emitter to filter the electromagnetic waves and to pass the electromagnetic waves with a predetermined wavelength band. The photovoltaic cell is disposed on the second focus and is suitable for receiving the electromagnetic waves with the predetermined wavelength band. |
| US08669462B2 |
Concentrating solar energy collector
Systems, methods, and apparatus by which solar energy may be collected to provide electricity, heat, or a combination of heat and electricity are disclosed herein. |
| US08669460B2 |
System and methods for optimal light collection array
Apparatus and methods according to various aspects of the present invention may operate in conjunction with a light collection array. One or more light redirectors located at or near inactive areas of light collection arrays may redirect incident light to active areas. In one embodiment, the light redirector may be implemented with additional light redirectors and/or a concentrating photovoltaic collection system. |
| US08669457B2 |
Dynamic generation of playlists
A system can receive and/or otherwise access information about items of content (e.g., audio tracks, video tracks, images and/or other items), information about a playlist to be generated, information about the past behavior of the target entity for the playlist and/or information about the past behavior of other entities. Examples of information about the items of content include genre, artist, album, time period, etc. Examples of information about a playlist include tempo curve, event type, playlist duration, etc. Based on all or a subset of the above-described information, the system automatically generates a playlist that identifies items of content. The playlist is presented to the target entity so that the target entity can acquire the playlist and/or the items of content identified in the playlist. In some embodiments, the target entity is also provided with an opportunity to edit the playlist. |
| US08669454B1 |
Foldable musical instrument pedal device
A foldable musical instrument pedal device having a positioning element hung at a base board. The positioning element is drooped when the base board stays in air, and a first stop portion is swung downwardly with a support frame and across a second stop portion from an external side of the base board to an internal side of the base board. When the base board is placed on a ground, each second stop portion is propped out from the base board to block the first stop portion in an upward swinging direction of the support frame, so as to fix the support frame to the fixed base. |
| US08669448B1 |
Wheat variety W020189J1
A wheat variety designated W020189J1, the plants and seeds of wheat variety W020189J1, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety W020189J1 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety W020189J1 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety W020189J1. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety W020189J1 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods. |
| US08669446B1 |
Wheat variety XW10S
A wheat variety designated XW10S, the plants and seeds of wheat variety XW10S, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety XW10S with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety XW10S with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety XW10S. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety XW10S and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods. |
| US08669445B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV375889
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV375889. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV375889, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV375889 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV375889 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV375889. |
| US08669442B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV129342
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV129342. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV129342, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV129342 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV129342 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV129342. |
| US08669436B1 |
Soybean cultivar 4980321658
A soybean cultivar designated 4980321658 is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention include the seeds of soybean 4980321658, the plants of soybean 4980321658, to plant parts of soybean 4980321658, and methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean 4980321658 with itself or with another soybean variety. Embodiments of the invention include methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more genes or transgenes and the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. Embodiments of the invention also relate to soybean cultivars, breeding cultivars, plant parts, and cells derived from soybean 4980321658, methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean 4980321658, and the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. Embodiments of the invention further include hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing 4980321658 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US08669430B2 |
Soybean variety A1026025
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1026025. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1026025. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1026025 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1026025 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US08669428B2 |
Soybean variety A1025977
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1025977. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1025977. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1025977 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1025977 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US08669426B1 |
Soybean variety XB37U12
A novel soybean variety, designated XB37U12 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB37U12, cells from soybean variety XB37U12, plants of soybean XB37U12, and plant parts of soybean variety XB37U12. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB37U12 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB37U12, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB37U12, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB37U12. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB37U12 are further provided. |
| US08669425B1 |
Soybean variety XB45K12
A novel soybean variety, designated XB45K12 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB45K12, cells from soybean variety XB45K12, plants of soybean XB45K12, and plant parts of soybean variety XB45K12. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB45K12 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB45K12, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB45K12, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB45K12. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB45K12 are further provided. |
| US08669422B2 |
Canola hybrid cultivar CL166102H
The present invention relates to a new and distinctive canola, designated CL166102H. Also included are seeds of canola CL166102H, to the plants, or plant parts, of canola CL166102H and to methods for producing a canola plant produced by crossing the canola CL166102H with itself or another canola genotype, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of canola CL166102H. |
| US08669421B2 |
Dover lettuce variety
A new and distinct lettuce variety designated ‘Dover’ is described. ‘Dover’ is an iceberg lettuce variety exhibiting vigorous growth, increased weight, and increased yield. ‘Dover’ is also characterized as having a large head size, a short core length, and a longer harvest period. |
| US08669414B2 |
Method to identify Asian soybean rust resistance quantitative trait loci in soybean and compositions thereof
The present invention is in the field of plant breeding and disease resistance. More specifically, the invention includes a method for breeding soybean plants containing quantitative trait loci that are associated with resistance to Asian Soybean Rust (ASR), a fungal disease associated with Phakopsora spp. The invention further includes germplasm and the use of germplasm containing quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring disease resistance for introgression into elite germplasm in a breeding program for resistance to ASR. |
| US08669412B2 |
Method and arrangement for manufacturing a laminated structure
A method for manufacturing a laminated structure for use in an absorbent article such as a diaper, a sanitary napkin, a panty liner, an incontinence pad or similar and being defined by a plurality of material layers comprising at least a first layer which is liquid-permeable, a second layer constituting an absorbent core and a third layer, each of the layers being formed of a material having a certain pore radius. The method includes bonding together the material layers by means of at least two ultrasonic welding steps; and providing an ultrasonic welding pattern for each of the welding steps, each of the welding patterns being defined by a plurality of bonding sites. The method includes providing the welding steps for forming generally the entire absorbent article; and selecting the welding patterns in a manner so that at least the entire laminated structure has a multiple pore radius. |
| US08669406B2 |
Process for the preparation of hydrogenated hydrocarbon compounds
A process for the dehydrogenation of a paraffinic hydrocarbon compound, such as an alkane or alkylaromatic hydrocarbon compound to produce an unsaturated hydrocarbon compound, such as an olefin or vinyl aromatic compound or mixture thereof, in which a dehydrogenation catalyst contacts gaseous reactant hydrocarbons in a reactor at dehydrogenation conditions. |
| US08669405B2 |
Stable bio-oil
More stable and valuable bio-oil compositions produced from biomasses are provided. Particularly, various embodiments of the present invention provide for a bio-oil composition that has chemical and physical properties that make it more cost effective and useful as a fuel without having to undergo deoxygenating processes such as hydrotreating. |
| US08669403B2 |
Farnesene dimers and/or farnesane dimers and compositions thereof
Farnesene dimers and/or farnesane dimers and compositions thereof are described. The compositions provided comprise conventional additives. Methods of making and using the compounds and composition are also disclosed. |
| US08669400B2 |
Direct and selective production of ethanol from acetic acid utilizing a platinum/ tin catalyst
A process for the selective production of ethanol by vapor phase reaction of acetic acid over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form ethanol is disclosed and claimed. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over a platinum and tin supported on silica, graphite, calcium silicate or silica-alumina selectively produces ethanol in a vapor phase at a temperature of about 250° C. |
| US08669398B2 |
Polymerisation initiator
The invention relates to novel O-dialkylamino-isoureas and polymerizable compositions comprising these O-dialkylamino-isoureas of compounds of the general formula (I). The invention further relates to the use of O-dialkylamino-isoureas as polymerization initiators, especially to prepare coatings or for controlled degradation of polyolefins. |
| US08669395B2 |
Optically active 4-amino-3-(4-chlorophenyl)butanoic acid
Provided is a new crystal A of optically active 4-amino-3-(4-chlorophenyl)butanoic acid which is far better in stability, and a process for producing the crystal and a process for producing the crystal A comprising a step of heating the following crystal B in water having a pH of 3 to 9: crystal A: a crystal of optically active 4-amino-3-(4-chlorophenyl)butanoic acid which has diffraction peaks within the range of a diffraction angle 2θ of 8.7 to 9.4°, within that of 2θ of 12.2 to 12.8°, and within that of 2θ of 24.8 to 25.4° in a powder X-ray diffraction measurement of the crystal by use of the Cu—Kα wavelength; and crystal B: a crystal of optically active 4-amino-3-(4-chlorophenyl)butanoic acid which has diffraction peaks within the range of a diffraction angle 2θ of 20.8 to 21.4°, within that of 2θ of 26.7 to 27.3°, and within that of 2θ of 29.7 to 30.3° in a powder X-ray diffraction measurement of the crystal by use of the Cu—Kα wavelength. |
| US08669392B2 |
Process for preparing 2,3-di-non-straight-alkyl-2-cyanosuccinic acid diesters
A process for preparing 2,3-di(non-linear-alkyl)-2-cyanosuccinate compounds, especially 2,3-diisopropyl-2-cyanosuccinate compounds, and processes for preparing 2,3-di(non-linear-alkyl)succinic acids and esters thereof by using the 2,3-di-non-linear propyl-2-cyanosuccinate compounds as intermediates are disclosed. |
| US08669389B2 |
Blocked mercaptosilane coupling agents, process for making the uses in rubber
The invention relates to sulfur silane coupling agents containing multiple blocked mercapto groups which are in a state of reduced activity until activated. The coupling agents are advantageously used in rubber formulations, for example, for fabricating tires with low rolling resistance. |
| US08669386B2 |
Organic tungsten complexes
This invention relates to an organic tungsten complex prepared by providing a strongly acidic tungsten precursor having pH≦2.5, and either reacting the tungsten precursor with a nitrogenous base to form a tungsten salt intermediate having a pH ranging from ≧5 to ≦8.5, and further reacting the tungsten salt intermediate with a fatty acid derivative of an alcohol, wherein the fatty acid derivative of an alcohol contains at least one free hydroxyl group; or reacting the tungsten precursor with a fatty acid derivative of an alcohol, wherein the fatty acid derivative of an alcohol contains at least one free hydroxyl group and a nitrogenous base. Further, this invention relates to lubricating compositions containing the inventive tungsten complexes. |
| US08669380B2 |
Dioxa-bicyclo[3.2.1]octane-2,3,4-triol derivatives
Compounds of Formula (A) and (B) are described herein and the uses thereof for the treatment of diseases, conditions and/or disorders mediated by sodium-glucose transporter inhibitors (in particular, SGLT2 inhibitors). |
| US08669370B2 |
Substituted 3-heteroaroylamino-propionic acid derivatives and their use as pharmaceuticals
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula I, wherein A, D, E, L, G, R10, R30, R40, R50 and R60 have the meanings indicated in the claims, which are valuable pharmaceutical active compounds. They are inhibitors of the protease cathepsin A, and are useful for the treatment of diseases such as atherosclerosis, heart failure, renal diseases, liver diseases or inflammatory diseases, for example. The invention furthermore relates to processes for the preparation of the compounds of the formula I, their use and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them. |
| US08669365B2 |
Cyclopamine analogs
The invention provides novel derivatives of cyclopamine having the following formula: |
| US08669363B2 |
Quinoxaline compounds and derivatives
The present invention provides oxazine compounds, method of using and method of making oxazine compounds and its pharmaceutical use. |
| US08669362B2 |
Processes and Intermediates for carbamoylpyridone HIV integrase inhibitors
Processes are provided which create an aldehyde methylene, or hydrated or hemiacetal methylene attached to a heteroatom of a 6 membered ring without going through an olefinic group and without the necessity of using an osmium reagent. In particular, a compound of formula (I) can be produced from (II) and avoid the use of an allyl amine: (formulae I and II) where R, P1 P3, R3 and Rx are as described herein. |
| US08669357B2 |
Cell surface coating with hyaluronic acid oligomer derivative
A method of localizing reproduction assisting hyaluronic acid to reproductive cell surfaces by covalently linking it to lipids is disclosed. |
| US08669355B2 |
Vaccine
The present invention is concerned with the development of a vaccine against Aeromonas hydrophila for use especially in fish. The invention provides an immunogenic S-layer protein of approximately 50 kDa of A. hydrophila for use in the development of a vaccine, as well as the nucleic acid encoding said protein and vaccines comprising said protein or nucleic acid encoding said protein. |
| US08669350B2 |
TNF receptor Fc fusion proteins and in vivo methods of use
The embodiments of the invention relate to compositions, methods, and kits comprising a fusion protein. The fusion proteins of the embodiments include monomer polypeptides which in one embodiment have at least a binding domain, an optional hinge region, a collagen-like domain and the Fc domain of a human IgG. |
| US08669349B2 |
BCR-complex-specific antibodies and methods of using same
This invention relates to chimeric and humanized antibodies that specifically bind the BCR complex, and particularly chimeric and humanized antibodies to the BCR complex. The invention also relates to methods of using the antibodies and compositions comprising them in the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of diseases such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders, and infectious disease. |
| US08669348B2 |
Anti diabetic protein
The present invention relates to a novel hypoglycemic/anti-hyperglycemic protein named ADMc1 purified from the seeds of Momordica charantia for control of hyperglycemia. The process for the purification of novel hypoglycemic/anti-hyperglycemic protein named ADMc1 is also disclosed. The invention also relates to process for preparation and purification of the recombinant novel hypoglycemic/anti-hyperglycemic protein of Momordica charantia, named rADMc1. Both ADMc1 and rADMc1 are highly effective and need to be administered only once a day to maintain normal blood glucose levels. The procedure involves purification of a novel hypoglycemic/anti-hyperglycemic protein of M. charantia, construction of cDNA library from M. charantia seeds, screening of cDNA library using oligonucleotide probe designed on the basis of amino acid sequence of the tryptic fragment of the protein, cloning of the cDNA in a eukaryotic expression system, expression and purification of the recombinant protein. |
| US08669347B2 |
Truncated variant of the mammalian target for rapamycin (MTOR) protein
The invention relates to mTORbeta, a splice form of mTOR, nucleic acids encoding mTOR beta, and antibodies against mTOR beta. The invention also relates to methods of producing mTOR beta and methods of screening for an agent that modulates mTOR beta expression and/or activity. The invention further relates to a method of treating a disease associated with aberrant expression of mTOR beta by administration of an agent that alters mTOR activity and/or expression. |
| US08669344B2 |
Method of deashing from polymer solutions
A method of removing a residual catalyst metal compound from a polymer solution comprises the steps of: a) mixing a solution in which at least one organic nitrogen compound is dissolved in a polar solvent and the polymer solution to precipitate a chelate compound of the organic nitrogen compounds and the residual catalyst metal compound, b) adding the polar solvent to the solution mixture to dissolve a chelate compound and to precipitate a polymer, and c) filtering the precipitated polymer. After the polymer polymerization is completed, an organic nitrogen compound solution is added to perform a chelate reaction with the residual catalyst metal compound in a solution phase, and the polar solvent is added to precipitate the polymer so that only polymer precipitates are filtered while an additional filtration process in respect to the chelate compound is not performed to easily remove the residual catalyst metal compound. |
| US08669343B2 |
Five-ring fused heteroaromatic compounds and conjugated polymers thereof
Compounds having a core comprised of an aromatic ring and at least two annulated beta-substituted fused thiophene ring systems of the general formula: -(β-R2—FT2ArFT2-β-R2)—, and polymers or copolymers thereof, of the general formulas: -{-(β-R2—FT2ArFT2-β-R2)-G1-}n-, or -{-G1-(β-R2—FT2ArFT2-β-R2)-G1-G2-}n-, where β-R2—FT2ArFT2-β-R2, -G1-, -G2-, and n are as defined herein. Also disclosed are compositions, articles, or devices comprising the polymers, and methods for making and using the polymers. The compositions, articles, or devices can be used, for example, for electronic applications, such as light emitting devices and semiconductor devices. |
| US08669341B2 |
Solid-state polymerization of a liquid crystalline polymer
A method for forming a high molecular weight thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer is provided. The method includes melt polymerizing two or more monomers in the presence of a unique aromatic amide oligomer to form a prepolymer, and then solid-state polymerizing the prepolymer to achieve a target molecular weight. The present inventors have discovered that a unique aromatic amide oligomer can be employed to help increase the “low shear” complex viscosity of the resulting solid-state polymerized composition. This allows for the attainment of higher than conventional “low shear” complex viscosity values and/or a substantial reduction in the solid-state polymerization time needed to achieve a target complex viscosity. In addition, the oligomeric flow aid can also accelerate the extent to which the “high shear” melt viscosity is increased during solid-state polymerization, which may also contribute to a substantial reduction in the solid-state polymerization time needed to achieve a certain molecular weight. |
| US08669339B2 |
Polybutadiene, modified polybutadiene, method for producing both, and rubber-reinforced styrene resin composition using same
Disclosed are a polybutadiene having a controlled microstructure, a narrow molecular weight distribution, minimal gel content, and a low APHA color, a modified polybutadiene, producing methods for both, and a rubber-reinforced styrene resin composition using the same. The polybutadiene of the present invention is characterized in that the ratio (Tcp/ML1+4) of a 5% toluene melting viscosity (Tcp) measured at 25° C. and the Mooney viscosity (ML1+4) at 100° C. is 2.0 or higher, the molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) is 2.80 or less, the gel content is 0.06 wt % or less, and the APHA color is 20 or less. |
| US08669337B2 |
Network copolymer crosslinked compositions and methods of making the same
The present invention is directed to a network composition having the reaction product of: (i) at least one anionic polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer (I) selected from the group consisting of [CH2═C(R3)C(O)OXa(C2H4O)b(C3H6O)c(C4H8O)d]pP(O)(OY)q(OZ)r where R3═H or alkyl of 1 to about 6 carbon atoms; X=alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl diradical connecting group of 0 to about 9 carbon atoms; a is 0 to about 100; b is 0 to about 100; c is 0 to about 100; d is 0 to about 100; q is 0 to about 2; r is 0 to about 2; p is 1 to about 3 subject to the limitation that p+q+r=3; and Y and Z is H, or metal ion; and CH2═C(R3)C(O)OXa′(C2H4O)b′(C3H6O)c′(C4H8O)d′—SO3—Y) where R3═H or alkyl of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms; X=alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl diradical connecting group of 0 to about 9 carbon atoms; a′ is 0 to about 100; b′ is 0 to about 100; c′ is 0 to about 100; d′ is 0 to about 100; Y is H, or metal ion; and (ii) one or more additional monomers (II) selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid/acrylate, methacrylic acid/methacrylate, acrylamides, vinyl acetate and styrene, which are copolymerizable with (I); and (iii) a cross-linking agent (III), capable of copolymerizing with (I) and (II). |
| US08669334B2 |
Olefin gas phase polymerisation
The invention is directed to a process for the gas phase polymerization of one or more olefin monomers in a fluidized bed reactor in a dry mode or in a (super) condensed mode with a gas stream comprising an inert gas characterized in that the inert gas comprises a mixture of inert components: (1) nitrogen; (2) a gas heat capacity increasing agent (3) a sorption promoting agent and (4) a polymer swelling agent. The inert gas may comprise (1) 5-60% by mol nitrogen (2) 10-90% by mol ethane (3) 1-50% by mol % n-butane and (4) 0.1-10% by mol % n-pentane or iso-pentane. |
| US08669332B2 |
Poly(arylene ether)-polysiloxane composition and method
A thermoplastic composition that includes a poly(arylene ether)-polysiloxane block copolymer is prepared by a method that includes oxidatively copolymerizing a monohydric phenol and a hydroxyaryl-terminated polysiloxane. The oxidative polymerization includes a monohydric phenol addition period characterized by a first temperature, a build period following the addition period and characterized by a second temperature greater than the first temperature, and a temperature ramp period between the addition period and the build period. During the temperature ramp period, the temperature is increased at an average rate of about 0.01 to about 0.35° C. per minute, which improves the efficiency with which the hydroxyaryl-terminated polysiloxane is incorporated into the poly(arylene ether)-polysiloxane block copolymer. |
| US08669326B2 |
Amine functionalized polyolefin and methods for preparation thereof
This invention relates to a process to functionalize polyolefins comprising contacting a transition metal amide catalyst with an amine (preferably a secondary amine), and one or more vinyl terminated materials, preferably one or more vinyl terminated polyolefins. This invention further relates to the amine-functionalized polyolefins produced thereby. |
| US08669325B1 |
Compositions image making mediums and images
The invention relates to compositions for forming an aesthetic image that is a work or object of art, design or architecture. These compositions generally include a synthetic polymer or a polymer that is transparent or synthetic and translucent, with this polymer present in an amount sufficient to enable the image to have at least one aesthetic or formal element. In different embodiments, the image support medium may be an image support stabilizer, the polymer may be a conductive polymer, a light emitting conductive polymer or a synthetic absorbent polymer, it may be a transparent or synthetic translucent polymer with a property provided or enhanced to facilitate the creation or preservation of the image by at least one stabilizer, or this composition may be a work or art, design or architecture. The invention also relates to a method for preparing the composition and a method for using it to make art, design or architecture. |
| US08669324B2 |
Method for producing binder for inkjet printing ink, inkjet printing ink, and printed material
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a binder for inks and for use in producing an inkjet printing ink that has both good ink dischargeability and blend stability. A method for producing a binder for inkjet printing inks, the binder containing a hydrophilic-group-containing urethane resin (A), an acetylene compound (B), and an aqueous medium (C), includes step (1) of allowing Ga polyol (a1) containing a hydrophilic-group-containing polyol to react with a polyisocyanate (a2) in an organic solvent or in the absence of a solvent and feeding the organic solvent as needed to prepare an organic solvent solution [I], step (2) of mixing the organic solvent solution [I] with the acetylene compound (B) and the aqueous medium (C) to prepare a mixture [II], and step (3) of removing the organic solvent contained in the mixture [II]. |
| US08669321B2 |
Tire rubber composition and pneumatic tire
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tire rubber composition and a pneumatic tire produced using the rubber composition, which improve mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, rolling resistance, wet grip performance, and dry grip performance in good balance. The present invention relates to a tire rubber composition comprising: a rubber component that contains a modified diene rubber; and a silica component that contains a silica surface-treated with a silane coupling agent, wherein the amount of the modified diene rubber in 100% by mass of the rubber component is 15% by mass or more, and the dispersion ratio of the silica component is 70% or higher. |
| US08669320B1 |
Water-borne spray adhesive
A sprayable adhesive composition may be made from the blend of a low Tg acrylic resin, water, and one or more water miscible organic solvents disposed in a container with one or more hydrocarbon propellants. The adhesive is stable in the presence of the hydrocarbon propellants. An adhesive delivery system for storing and discharging the adhesive compositions of the present invention are also taught. |
| US08669316B2 |
Magnetic ion-exchange resin and method for the preparation thereof
Magnetic ion-exchange polymer microspheres and a method for preparing the same are provided. The method for preparing the magnetic ion-exchange polymer microspheres includes swelling the ion-exchange resins and allowing the magnetic nano-particles to enter the interior of the ion-exchange resins. The magnetic ion-exchange resins of the present invention have various functional groups can be introduced onto the surfaces thereof. Therefore, the magnetic ion-exchange resins of the present invention can be applied in many areas, and thereby they have high economic value. |
| US08669313B2 |
Golf ball material and method of preparing the same
The invention provides a golf ball material which is a resin mixture composed of (a) an olefin-methacrylic acid copolymer and/or an olefin-methacrylic acid-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester copolymer having a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of from 120,000 to 200,000 and a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) to number-average molecular weight (Mn) ratio of from 4.0 to 7.0, or a metal neutralization product thereof, (b) an olefin-acrylic acid copolymer and/or an olefin-acrylic acid-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester copolymer having a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of from 150,000 to 220,000 and a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) to number-average molecular weight (Mn) ratio of from 5.5 to 8.5, or a metal neutralization product thereof, (c) an organic acid or a metal salt thereof, and (d) a basic inorganic metal compound for neutralizing at least 70 mol % of acid groups in components (a) to (c), which resin mixture has a Shore D hardness of from 30 to 60. The golf ball material of the invention is a low-hardness material. Golf balls in which an injection molding of the golf ball material is used as a cover material have an excellent rebound and durability. |
| US08669312B2 |
Golf ball material and method of preparing the same
The invention provides a golf ball material which is a resin mixture composed of (a) an olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer and/or an olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester copolymer having a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of from 120,000 to 200,000 and a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) to number-average molecular weight (Mn) ratio of from 4.3 to 6.6, or a metal neutralization product thereof, (b) an olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer and/or an olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester copolymer having a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of from 120,000 to 200,000 and a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) to number-average molecular weight (Mn) ratio of from 6.8 to 9.5, or a metal neutralization product thereof, (c) an organic acid or a metal salt thereof and (d) a basic inorganic metal compound for neutralizing at least 70 mol % of acid groups in components (a) to (c), which resin mixture has a Shore D hardness of from 30 to 55. The golf ball material of the invention is a low-hardness material. Golf balls in which an injection molding of the golf ball material is used as a cover material have an excellent rebound and durability. |
| US08669311B2 |
C7—C12 secondary alcohol esters of cyclohexanoic acid
C7-C12 secondary alcohol esters of cyclohexanecarboxylic acids are especially useful as plasticizers for PVC and other plasticizable polymers. In embodiments, these plasticizers are useful in plastisol formulations to help improved processability of flexible PVC material. In other embodiments these same plasticizers can be used in blends with other plasticizers to improve processability. In preferred embodiments these same plasticizers can be used to prepare flexible PVC compounds with enhanced low temperature flexibility, low toxicity, and improved resistance to outdoor aging. |
| US08669310B2 |
Polyamide resin composition reinforced with glass fiber
There is provided a polyamide resin composition reinforced with glass fiber produced by the melt kneading of a mixture where 60 to 80 parts by weight of glass fiber bundles (B) comprising a glass fiber having a flat cross section whose flatness degree is 1.5 to 8 and having an ignition loss at 625° C. for 0.5 hour of not more than 0.8% by weight are added to 40 to 20 parts by weight of polyamide (A), characterized in that, during the above melt kneading, a polyamide-reactive silane coupling agent (C) is added to the above mixture in a rate of 0.1 to 1.0% by weight of the above glass fiber bundles (B). The polyamide resin composition of the present invention has high bending strength, bending elastic modulus and Charpy impact strength (at 23° C. and −40° C.) by a specific fracture mode which have been never achieved before, and it is excellent in productivity. |
| US08669294B2 |
Syngas production through the use of membrane technologies
Streams (11) of natural gas contaminated with significant amounts of carbon dioxide can be efficiently and economically processed to create Syngas (16). An available source (1) of flue gas that might otherwise be dispersed into the atmosphere in conjunction with such a CO2-laden natural gas stream (11) renders the process even more economical and efficient through the creation of multiple feedstreams (14, 27, 34) that are combined to deliver a composite near equal mixture of methane and CO2 to a plasma reactor (15) or the like that will generate Syngas. When coupled with a Fischer-Tropsch reactor (40), the overall process provides a particularly efficient and economical process for producing synthetic liquid hydrocarbons. |
| US08669292B2 |
Therapeutic formulation
The invention provides compositions and formulations comprising catechol and/or acetogenins and various combinations thereof; including various combinations with other ingredients including botanical preparations containing acetogenin, an extract of green tea or a therapeutically active flavanoid contained in green tea; and one or more quinones. The invention includes a pharmaceutical composition including a salt of rhodizonic acid, an OH anion-generating base, a non-toxic acid, a quinone, a salt-containing sulfite, catechol and optionally, an acetogenin and an extract of green tea. The compositions and formulations demonstrate positive effects against a broad variety of cancer, autoimmune diseases, viruses and provides antioxidant protection against peroxyl hydrophilic, peroxyl lipophilic, hydroxyl, peroxynitrite and super oxide radicals. The compositions and formulations can be used for nutritional and nutraceutical uses, and used as dietary supplements. |
| US08669289B2 |
Methods and compositions relating to hematologic malignancies
Methods of treating a subject having, or at risk of having, a myeloproliferative disorder are provided according to embodiments of the present invention which include administering a therapeutically effective amount of an arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitor to the subject. Combinations of therapeutic agents are administered according to embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, two or more 5-LO inhibitors are administered to a subject to treat a myeloproliferative disorder. In further embodiments, at least one 5-LO inhibitor and at least one additional therapeutic agent are administered to a subject to treat a myeloproliferative disorder. Methods of inhibiting leukemia stem cells are provided according to embodiments of the present invention which include contacting leukemia stem cells with an effective amount of an arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor. |
| US08669288B2 |
Lysine salts of 4-((phenoxyalkyl)thio)-phenoxyacetic acid derivatives
The present invention is directed to a novel lysine salts, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of disorders and conditions modulated by PPAR delta. The present invention is further directed to a novel process for the preparation of said lysine salts. |
| US08669287B2 |
Emulsifying preparation
An emulsifying preparation for an oil-soluble component, which is sensorily superior when applied to an aqueous phase, can maintain stability for a long time, and imposes less restriction for formulation or production is provided. The emulsifying preparation of the present invention contains (A) an oil phase component containing an oil-soluble component, (B) an aqueous phase component containing a polyol, and (C) an emulsifier containing polyglycerol fatty acid monoester having an average degree of polymerization of not less than 10, and having an HLB value of not less than 14 and not more than 18 or showing a transmittance of 1 wt % aqueous solution at 600 nm of not less than 80%. |
| US08669284B2 |
Pharmaceutical composition comprising a bi-cyclic compound and method for stabilizing the bi-cyclic compound
Disclosed is a method for stabilizing a pharmaceutically active bi-cyclic compound of formula (I): comprising the step of: admixing the same with a polyol and/or a fatty acid ester other than glyceride and a composition obtained by the method. In addition a soft gelatin capsule formulation of the compound of formula (I) obtained by incorporating the compound in a soft gelatin capsule shell comprising gelatin and a polyol plasticizer. |
| US08669280B2 |
Antiviral compounds and methods
The present invention relates to novel compounds and compositions having antiviral activity. The invention also relates to methods for the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of viral infections in mammals. |
| US08669277B2 |
Solid forms of an azocyclic amide
Disclosed are solid forms of 1-[4-[4-[5-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-3-isoxazolyl]-2-thiazolyl]-1-piperidinyl]-2-[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]ethanone (Compound 1). Methods for the preparation of solid forms of Compound 1 and for the conversion of one solid form of Compound 1 into another are disclosed.Disclosed are fungicidal compositions comprising a fungicidally effective amount of a solid form of Compound 1 and at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of surfactants, solid diluents and liquid carriers. Compositions comprising a mixture of a solid form of Compound 1 and at least one other fungicide or insecticide are also disclosed.Also disclosed are methods for controlling plant diseases caused by fungal plant pathogens comprising applying to a plant or portion thereof, or to a plant seed, a fungicidally effective amount of a solid form of Compound 1. |
| US08669275B2 |
Deuterium-enriched donepezil
The present application describes deuterium-enriched donepezil, pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms thereof, and methods of treating using the same. |
| US08669273B2 |
Antineoplastic combinations of 4-anilino-3-cyanoquinolines and capecitabine
A combination of a 4-anilino-3-cyanoquinoline compound (e.g. HKI-272, SKI-606, EKB-569) and a capecitabine compound in the treatment of a neoplasm is provided. Regimens, kits, and methods for treatment of neoplasm, including breast cancer including metastatic breast cancer, and lung cancer, using this combination, optionally in combination with other anti-neoplastic agents, or immune modulators are also described. |
| US08669269B2 |
Imidazopyridine derivatives which inhibit the secretion of gastric acid
The present invention relates to substituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines of formula I where R is —CH2COOH or —COOH, which inhibits exogenously or endogenously stimulated gastric acid secretion and can be used in the prevention and treatment of gastric acid related diseases and gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases. |
| US08669268B2 |
Deuterium-enriched prasugrel
The present application describes deuterium-enriched prasugrel, pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms thereof, and methods of treating using the same. |
| US08669267B2 |
Pharmaceutical, food or beverage having inhibitory activity on serotonin transporter
There is provided a pharmaceutical agent, food, or beverage for treating or preventing a disease or condition that can be ameliorated by inhibiting serotonin reuptake, comprising a clinically-effective amount of (1S,3S)-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid. |
| US08669265B2 |
Hydrated form of erlotinib free base and a process for preparation of erlotinib hydrochloride polymorph form a substantially free of polymorph form B
The present invention provides a novel and stable hydrated form of erlotinib free base, and a process for its preparation thereof. The present invention also provides a process for preparation of erlotinib hydrochloride crystalline polymorph a substantially free of polymorph B. The present invention further relates to erlotinib hydrochloride crystalline particles having mean particle size (D50) ranging from about 4 μm to 15 μm and 90 volume-% of the particles (D90) ranging from about 14 μm to 30 μm, to the methods for the manufacture of said crystalline particles, and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said crystalline particles. |
| US08669264B2 |
Rutaecarpine derivatives for activating CYP1A2 in a subject
The teachings provided herein generally relate to compositions comprising rutaecarpine derivatives that activates CYP1A2 through enzyme induction. The uses for such a derivative can include removing caffeine from a subject, improving sleep, treating insomnia, treating caffeine toxicity, treating caffeine addiction and withdrawal symptoms, and the like. Caffeine is just one example of a substrate that can be removed using the derivatives taught herein, and other examples, including theophylline, are provided herein. |
| US08669263B2 |
Use of TAM receptor inhibitors as antimicrobials
This disclosure concerns antimicrobial compositions and methods for immunoenhancement, for example methods of increasing production of a type I interferon (IFN) in response to pathogen infection, by administration of a TAM receptor inhibitor. In certain embodiments, the disclosure concerns methods of using a TAM receptor inhibitor to treat a viral or bacterial infection in a subject. |
| US08669262B2 |
3,5-diamino-6-chloro-N-(N-(4-(4-(2-(hexyl(2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxyhexyl)amino)ethoxy)phenyl)butyl)carbamimidoyl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide
The present invention relates to the compound of the formula: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as well as compositions containing the same, processes for the preparation of the same, and therapeutic methods of use therefore in promoting hydration of mucosal surfaces and the treatment of diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, bronchiectasis, acute and chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, and pneumonia. |
| US08669261B2 |
Acrylomido derivatives useful as inhibitors of the mitochondrial permeability transition
Acrylamido derivatives useful as therapeutic agents, particularly for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases and conditions associated with the activity of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), such as the diseases characterized by ischemia/reperfusion, oxidative or degenerative tissue damage, are herein described. These compounds belong to the structural formula (I) wherein R, R′, R″, W and a are as defined in the specification. The invention also relates to the preparation of these compounds, as well as to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them. |
| US08669260B2 |
Ketoconazole-derivative antagonist of human pregnane X receptor and uses thereof
The application discloses ketoconazole derivatives that are antagonists of the human pregnane X receptor (PXR), methods of preparing the derivatives, uses of the derivatives with drug therapy, and methods of inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and multidrug resistance using inhibitors of PXR. |
| US08669258B2 |
Treatment for gastroparesis using sepiapterin
Embodiments of the invention are directed to the treatment of gastroparesis by administering sepiapterin. |
| US08669257B2 |
Phenazine derivatives and uses thereof as potassium channel modulators
The present invention provides compounds of Formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein each of W, Q, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, m, and n is as defined herein, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, and methods of using the same. |
| US08669256B2 |
Substituted thieno[2,3-b]pyrazine compounds as modulators of B-Raf kinase activity
The invention relates to compounds according to general Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds can be used for the treatment of cancer. |
| US08669244B2 |
Cucurbitane-triterpenoid compounds, pharmaceutical composition, use and preparation method thereof
Disclosed is a cucurbitane-triterpenoid compound for activating estrogen receptor activity, and a pharmaceutical composition, use and preparation method thereof. The cucurbitane-triterpenoid compound is presented as formula (I): wherein a single bond or a double bond is formed between C5 and C10, and a single bond or a double bond is fromed between C8 and C9; when a single bond is formed between C5 and C10, the R1 is oxygen; while a single bond is formed between C8 and C9, R2 is carbonyl group (—C═O), methyl hydroxyl group (—CH(OH)), methyl ketone or methyl dimethoxy group (—CH(OCH3)2); and wherein while R1 is oxygen (—O—) and R2 is carbonyl group (—C═O) or methyl hydroxyl group (—CH(OH)), a single bond is formed between R1 (—O—) and C19 of R2 such that R1 and R2 are formed tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one or hemiacetal ring. |
| US08669240B2 |
Biological specimen collection and transport system and method of use
Disclosed are compositions for isolating populations of nucleic acids from biological, forensic, and environmental samples. Also disclosed are methods for using these compositions as one-step formulations for killing pathogens, inactivating nucleases, and releasing polynucleotides from other cellular components within the sample, and stabilizing the nucleic acids prior to further processing or assay. The disclosed compositions safely facilitate rapid sample collection, and provide extended storage and transport of the samples at ambient or elevated temperature without contamination of the sample or degradation of the nucleic acids contained therein. This process particularly facilitates the collection of specimens from remote locations, and under conditions previously considered hostile for presenting the integrity of nucleic acids released from lysed biological samples without the need of refrigeration or freezing prior to molecular analysis. |
| US08669236B2 |
Biotinylated compositions
Novel biotinylated composition comprising a nucleic acid, e.g. siRNA, that are useful for targeting therapeutic and imaging agents to sites of infection and tumors are disclosed. |
| US08669233B2 |
Combination of compounds for treating or preventing skin diseases
A combination of compounds for treating skin diseases and particularly rosacea and ocular rosacea is described. The combination of a compound of the avermectin family or of the mylbemycin family with a compound of the family of the alpha-1 or alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists is also described. In addition, a product in the form of a kit including: (a) a first composition containing a compound of the avermectin family or of the mylbemycin family, and (b) a second composition different from the first one and containing a compound of the family of the alpha-1 or alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists, as a combination product to be used as a drug for treating and/or preventing skin diseases and particularly rosacea and ocular rosacea, wherein said first and second compositions can be applied simultaneously, separately or with a time delay is described. |
| US08669232B2 |
Flavonol compounds, a bioactive extract/fraction from Ulmus wallichiana and its compounds for prevention for treatment of osteo-health related disorders
The present invention provides a flavonol compound and a bioactive extract/fraction from Ulmus wallichiana useful for the management or prevention or treatment of bone disorders. Said extract/fraction comprising marker compounds of general formula 2, K058: R1═R2═OH K012: R1═R2═OH, 2,3 double bond K068: R1═R2═H KIOOi R1═OH, R2═H mula 2 Wherein the marker compounds K012, K058, K068, K1OO ranges 6.7-12%, 1.7-4.5%, 0.6-1.2%, 1.7-4.5% respectively in alcoholic extract and a process of extraction thereof. According to another aspect of the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising the said compound. The present invention further provides a method of treating bone disorders by administering the pharmaceutical composition by oral, intravenous, subcutaneous, intra-peritoneal or intramuscular route. |
| US08669231B2 |
Activation of peptide prodrugs by hK2
The invention provides novel peptide prodrugs that contain cleavage sites specifically cleaved by human kallikrein 2 (hK2). These prodrugs are useful for substantially inhibiting the non-specific toxicity of a variety of therapeutic drugs. Upon cleavage of the prodrug by hK2, the therapeutic drugs are activated and exert their toxicity. Methods for treating cell proliferative disorders are also featured in the invention. |
| US08669226B2 |
Antimicrobial compositions and methods of use thereof
The present application discloses a method for treating microbial infection using an antimicrobial composition comprises antimicrobial peptide which contains at least one VGFPV motif. |
| US08669225B2 |
Method of forming non-immunogenic hydrophobic protein nanoparticles and uses therefor
Methods are described for producing non-immunogenic nanoparticles from protein sources by controlling the pH in a nanoprecipitation process. The nanoparticles that are produced by the disclosed methods range in diameter size from about 100 ran to about 400 nm, with a preferred diameter size of from approximately 100 nm to approximately 300 nm, thereby rendering them non-immunogenic. The invention further discloses methods for producing nanoconjugates that are suitable for a variety of therapeutic, diagnostic and other uses. |
| US08669223B2 |
Stability enhancement agent for solid detergent compositions
A stability enhancement agent for use in a solid detergent and solid detergent compositions is described. Stability enhancement is provided by a hydratable salt, water and a polyepoxysuccinic acid or polyepoxysuccinic acid metal salt binding agent forming a dimensionally stable composition. Preferred polyepoxysuccinic acid or polyepoxysuccinic acid metal salts have a molecular weight of between about 400 and about 1,500 g/mol. The stability enhancement composition for use in a solid detergent and solid detergent compositions are preferably biodegradable and substantially free of phosphorus and NTA. |
| US08669218B2 |
WC gel
An adherent gelled or pasty composition for cleaning and/or scenting a toilet, wherein the composition is applied internally onto the toilet ceramic and is rinsed off only after several flushing operations, the composition comprising: a surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkylpolyglycosides, amphoacetates, amphodiacetates, betaines, fatty alcohol ethercarboxylic acids, fatty acid sarcosinates, cocamidopropylamine oxide, aminopropionates, and biosurfactants; perfume; and water; wherein the composition comprises, as an adhesion promoter, an ester of polyisobutene succinic acid, and wherein the composition is free of further adhesion promoters and surfactants. |
| US08669217B2 |
Cleaning composition, cleaning process, and process for producing semiconductor device
A cleaning method is provided that includes a step of preparing a cleaning composition containing 57 to 95 wt % of (component a) water, 1 to 40 wt % of (component b) a secondary hydroxy group- and/or tertiary hydroxy group-containing hydroxy compound, (component c) an organic acid, and (component d) a quaternary ammonium compound, the composition having a pH of 5 to 10, and a step of removing plasma etching residue formed above a semiconductor substrate by means of the cleaning composition. There are also provided a process for producing a semiconductor device that includes a step of cleaning plasma etching residue formed above a semiconductor substrate using the cleaning method, and a cleaning composition for removing plasma etching residue formed above a semiconductor substrate that contains 57 to 95 wt % of (component a) water, 1 to 40 wt % of (component b) a secondary hydroxy group- and/or tertiary hydroxy group-containing hydroxy compound, (component c) an organic acid, and (component d) a quaternary ammonium compound, the composition having a pH of 5 to 10. |
| US08669213B2 |
Method of servicing a wellbore with an aqueous gel containing a friction reducer
A well servicing fluid formulated with components comprising a friction reducer having at least one polymer unit chosen from acrylamide groups, acrylate groups, sulfo groups, and maleic acid groups; and an anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant and an aqueous base capable of forming a viscoelastic gel. Methods of making the well servicing fluid and methods of employing the well servicing fluid in a well are also disclosed. |
| US08669203B2 |
Method for forming products from a flue gas desulfurization by-product and products formed thereby
Compositions and methods for producing a manufactured product, a method for making a liquid absorbent, and processes for disposal of flammable liquids with a flue gas desulfurization by-product. The compositions for the manufactured products combine a binder and the by-product. The composition contains a greater percentage by weight of the by-product than the binder. The methods for producing manufactured products include dewatering the gypsum-depleted waste stream to reduce a water content, and forming the manufactured product. The method for making a liquid absorbent includes dewatering, granulating, drying, heating, and packaging a granulated gypsum-depleted composition as the liquid absorbent. The processes for disposal of flammable liquids include distributing a by-product into contact with flammable liquid, absorbing the liquid, transporting, and igniting the flammable liquid. The artificial soils are a combination of by-product and animal waste. |
| US08669201B2 |
Catalyst for producing acrylic acids and acrylates
The invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process includes the steps of contacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst composition under conditions effective to produce the acrylate product. The catalyst composition comprises vanadium, titanium and tungsten. Preferably, the catalyst comprises vanadium to tungsten at a molar ratio of at least 0.02:1, in an active phase. |
| US08669200B2 |
Hollow fibres
A hollow fibre containing one or more layers having a mean pore size in one or more of said layers of less than 100μm. The invention also extends to a method for preparing porous hollow fibres and to the apparatus for preparing said fibres. |
| US08669197B2 |
Grey glass composition
A grey glass composition employing in its colorant portion at least iron (Fe2O3/FeO), cobalt and selenium is provided. The glass allows high visible transmission, and good IR absorption, while at the same time achieving desired grey color. In certain example embodiments, the colorant portion includes, or may consist essentially of: total iron (expressed as Fe2O3)0.20 to 0.35% selenium0.0002 to 0.0020% cobalt oxide0.0025 to 0.0060% titanium oxide0 to 1.0% glass redox:<=.27; or 0.10 to 0.25. |
| US08669195B2 |
Electrical components and circuits constructed as textiles
Electrical components are formed in a fabric during the weaving process by a series of crossing conductors in the warp and weft fibers of the fabric. Some of the crossing points provide permanent Separation of the crossing conductors, others permanent connection of the crossing conductors and others connection upon the application of pressure to the fabric. The structure provides the possibility of forming a greater range of components and more reliable component characteristics than heretofore possible. |
| US08669193B2 |
Sheet material for a folding wall of a transition device and the method for the production of such sheet material
The subject of this invention is a sheet of material for the manufacture of a folding wall of a transition between two articulated vehicle units, as well as the folding wall of a passenger boarding bridge or passenger stairs, wherein the sheet material has at least one reinforcement element, with the reinforcement element is coated on both sides with a plastic layer, wherein the at least one reinforcement element has on one side a coating based on a silicone rubber and on the other side a coating based on an organic rubber. |
| US08669192B2 |
Vapor deposition device, vapor deposition method, organic EL element and organic EL display device
First and second vapor deposition particles (91a, 91b) discharged from first and second vapor deposition source openings (61a, 61b) pass through first and second limiting openings (82a, 82b) of a limiting plate unit (80), pass through mask opening (71) of a vapor deposition mask (70) and adhere to a substrate (10) so as to form a coating film. If regions on the substrate to which the first vapor deposition particles and the second vapor deposition particles adhere if the vapor deposition mask is assumed not to exist are respectively denoted by a first region (92a) and a second region (92b), the limiting plate unit limits the directionalities of the first vapor deposition particles and the second vapor deposition particles in a first direction (10a) that travel to the substrate such that the second region is contained within the first region. Accordingly, it is possible to form a light emitting layer with a doping method by using vapor deposition by color. |
| US08669188B2 |
Method for making a pattern from sidewall image transfer
The substrate is provided with a layer of first material, a first etching mask, a covering layer and a second etching mask. The covering layer has a covered main area and an uncovered secondary area. The secondary area of the covering layer is partially etched via the second etching mask to form a salient pattern. Lateral spacers are formed around the salient pattern defining a third etching mask. The second etching mask is eliminated. The covering layer is etched by means of the third etching mask to form a salient pattern in the covering layer and to uncover the first etching mask and the first material. The layer of first material is etched to form the pattern made from the first material. |
| US08669186B2 |
Methods of forming SRAM devices using sidewall image transfer techniques
In one example, the method includes forming a hard mask layer above a semiconducting substrate, forming a patterned spacer mask layer above the hard mask layer, wherein the patterned spacer mask layer is comprised of a plurality of first spacers, second spacers and third spacers, and performing a first etching process on the hard mask layer through the patterned spacer mask layer to define a patterned hard mask layer. The method also includes performing a second etching process through the patterned hard mask layer to define a plurality of first fins, second fins and third fins in the substrate, wherein the first fins have a width that corresponds approximately to a width of the first spacers, the second fins have a width that corresponds approximately to a width of the second spacers, and the third fins have a width that corresponds approximately to a width of the third spacers. |
| US08669185B2 |
Method of tailoring conformality of Si-containing film
A method of tailoring conformality of a film deposited on a patterned surface includes: (I) depositing a film by PEALD or pulsed PECVD on the patterned surface; (II) etching the film, wherein the etching is conducted in a pulse or pulses, wherein a ratio of an etching rate of the film on a top surface and that of the film on side walls of the patterns is controlled as a function of the etching pulse duration and the number of etching pulses to increase a conformality of the film; and (III) repeating (I) and (II) to satisfy a target film thickness. |
| US08669183B2 |
Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
This invention is directed to form a homogeneous film in a via hole formed in a semiconductor device using Bosch process. The via hole that penetrates through a predetermined region in a semiconductor substrate is formed by etching the semiconductor substrate from one of its surface to the other by the Bosch process using a mask layer as a mask. Next, the mask layer is removed. Then, scallops are removed by dry etching to flatten a sidewall of the via hole. Following the above, an insulation film, a barrier layer and the like are formed homogeneously in the via hole. |
| US08669177B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes an insulation film formed above a semiconductor substrate, a conductor containing Cu formed in the insulation film, and a layer film formed between the insulation film and the conductor and formed of a first metal film containing Ti and a second metal film different from the first metal film, a layer containing Ti and Si is formed on the surface of the conductor. |
| US08669176B1 |
BEOL integration scheme for copper CMP to prevent dendrite formation
Disclosed herein are various methods of forming copper-based conductive structures on integrated circuit devices by performing a copper deposition process to fill the trench or via with copper, which can be performed by fill, plating or electroless deposition. Copper clearing of copper overburden is performed using CMP to stop on an existing liner. Copper in the trenches or vias is recessed by controlled etch. An Nblok cap layer is deposited to cap the trenches or vias so that copper is not exposed to ILD. Nblok overburden and adjacent liner is then removed by CMP. Nblok cap layer is then deposited. The proposed approach is an alternative CMP integration scheme that will eliminate the exposure of copper to ILD during CMP, will prevent any dendrite formation, can be used for all metal layers in BEOL stack, and can be utilized for multiple layers, as necessary, whenever copper CMP is desired. |
| US08669175B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing of the semiconductor device
A semiconductor device. In one embodiment the device includes a carrier. A first material is deposited on the carrier. The first material has an elastic modulus of less than 100 MPa. A semiconductor chip is placed over the first material. A second material is deposited on the semiconductor chip, the second material being electrically insulating. A metal layer is placed over the second material. |
| US08669174B2 |
Multi-die stacking using bumps with different sizes
A device includes a first die having a first side and a second side opposite to first side, the first side includes a first region and a second region, and a first metal bump of a first horizontal size formed on the first region of the first side of the first die. A second die is bonded to the first metal bump at the first side of the first die. A dielectric layer is formed over the first side of the first die and includes a first portion directly over the second die, a second portion covering the second die. A second metal bump of a second horizontal size greater than the first horizontal size is formed on the second region of the first side of the first die. An electrical component is bonded to the first side of the first die through the second metal bump. |
| US08669170B2 |
Methods of reducing gate leakage
Disclosed herein are various methods of reducing gate leakage in semiconductor devices such as transistors. In one example, a method disclosed herein includes performing an etching process to define a gate insulation layer of a transistor, wherein the gate insulation layer has an etched edge, performing an angled ion implantation process to implant ions into the gate insulation layer proximate the etched edge of the gate insulation layer and, after performing the angled ion implantation process, performing an anneal process. |
| US08669167B1 |
Techniques for metal gate workfunction engineering to enable multiple threshold voltage FINFET devices
Techniques are provided for gate work function engineering in FIN FET devices using a work function setting material an amount of which is provided proportional to fin pitch. In one aspect, a method of fabricating a FIN FET device includes the following steps. A SOI wafer having a SOI layer over a BOX is provided. An oxide layer is formed over the SOI layer. A plurality of fins is patterned in the SOI layer and the oxide layer. An interfacial oxide is formed on the fins. A conformal gate dielectric layer, a conformal gate metal layer and a conformal work function setting material layer are deposited on the fins. A volume of the conformal gate metal layer and a volume of the conformal work function setting material layer deposited over the fins is proportional to a pitch of the fins. A FIN FET device is also provided. |
| US08669166B1 |
Methods of thinning and/or dicing semiconducting substrates having integrated circuit products formed thereon
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a plurality of die above a crystalline semiconducting substrate, irradiating and cooling an edge region of the substrate to form an amorphous region in the edge region of the substrate and, after forming the amorphous region, performing at least one process operation to reduce the thickness of the substrate. |
| US08669162B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes: forming a plurality of semiconductor layers located at a distance from one another on a first insulating film; forming a gate insulating film that covers both side faces and an upper face of each of the semiconductor layers; forming a gate electrode of a polysilicon film to cover the gate insulating film of each of the semiconductor layers; forming a second insulating film on an entire surface; exposing an upper face of the gate electrode by performing selective etching on a portion of the second insulating film; siliciding the gate electrode; and forming a stress applying film that applies a stress in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of each of the semiconductor layers and parallel to an upper face of the first insulating film. |
| US08669157B2 |
Non-volatile memory cell having a heating element and a substrate-based control gate
The number of times that a non-volatile memory (NVM) can be programmed and erased is substantially increased by utilizing a localized heating element that anneals the oxide that is damaged by tunneling charge carriers when the NVM is programmed and erased. The program and erase voltages are also reduced when heat from the heating element is applied prior to programming and erasing. |
| US08669155B2 |
Hybrid channel semiconductor device and method for forming the same
A hybrid channel semiconductor device and a method for forming the same are provided. The method includes: providing a first semiconductor layer, the first semiconductor layer including an NMOS area and a PMOS area, a surface of the first semiconductor layer being covered by a second semiconductor layer, wherein electrons have higher mobility than holes in one of the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, and holes have higher mobility than electrons in the other; forming a first dummy gate structure, and a first source region and a first drain region on respective sides of the first dummy gate structure on the second semiconductor layer in the NMOS area, forming a second dummy gate structure, and a second source region and a second drain region on respective sides of the second dummy gate structure on the second semiconductor layer in the PMOS area; forming an interlayer dielectric layer on the second semiconductor layer and performing planarization; removing the first dummy gate structure and the second dummy gate structure to form a first opening and a second opening; and forming a first gate structure on the one of the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer in which electrons have higher mobility in the first opening, and forming a second gate structure on the other semiconductor layer in the second opening. The invention can reduce defects in the channel region. |
| US08669154B2 |
Transistor device and method of manufacture thereof
A CMOS device includes high k gate dielectric materials. A PMOS device includes a gate that is implanted with an n-type dopant. The NMOS device may be doped with either an n-type or a p-type dopant. The work function of the CMOS device is set by the material selection of the gate dielectric materials. A polysilicon depletion effect is reduced or avoided. |
| US08669150B2 |
Semiconductor device with reliable high-voltage gate oxide and method of manufacture thereof
A semiconductor device including a capacitor and a proximate high-voltage gate having a boron-barrier layer that ideally serves as part of both the capacitor dielectric and the (high voltage) HV gate oxide. The boron-barrier layer is preferably formed over a poly oxide layer that is in turn deposited on a substrate infused to create a neighboring wells, and N-well over which the capacitor will be formed, and P-well to be overlaid by the HV gate. The boron-barrier helps to reduce or eliminate the harmful effects of boron diffusion from the P-well during TEOS deposition of the gate oxide material. |
| US08669149B2 |
Semiconductor structure and fabrication method thereof
A method for fabrication of a semiconductor device is provided. A first type doped body region is formed in a first type substrate. A first type heavily-doped region is formed in the first type doped body region. A second type well region and second type bar regions are formed in the first type substrate with the second type bar regions between the second type well region and the first type doped body region. The first type doped body region, the second type well region, and each of the second type bar regions are separated from each other by the first type substrate. The second type bar regions are inter-diffused to form a second type continuous region adjoining the second type well region. A second type heavily-doped region is formed in the second type well region. |
| US08669148B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
An embodiment of the disclosed invention is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, which includes the steps of: forming a first insulating film; performing oxygen doping treatment on the first insulating film to supply oxygen to the first insulating film; forming a source electrode, a drain electrode, and an oxide semiconductor film electrically connected to the source electrode and the drain electrode, over the first insulating film; performing heat treatment on the oxide semiconductor film to remove a hydrogen atom in the oxide semiconductor film; forming a second insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film; and forming a gate electrode in a region overlapping with the oxide semiconductor film, over the second insulating film. The manufacturing method allows the formation of a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor, which has stable electrical characteristics and high reliability. |
| US08669146B2 |
Semiconductor structures with thinned junctions and methods of manufacture
A method of forming a semiconductor structure, including forming a channel in a first portion of a semiconductor layer and forming a doped extension region in a second portion of the semiconductor layer abutting the channel on a first side and abutting an insulator material on a bottom side. The first portion of the semiconductor layer is thicker than the second portion of the semiconductor layer. |
| US08669140B1 |
Method of forming stacked die package using redistributed chip packaging
A method of making a semiconductor device includes providing a first semiconductor die and a conductive frame member having at least one conductive via. A first encapsulation layer is formed. A first redistribution layer is formed opposite the first encapsulation layer. A second redistribution layer is formed opposite the first redistribution layer. A second semiconductor die is mounted and electrically connected with receptor pads in the second redistribution layer. A third semiconductor die is mounted to the second semiconductor die and electrically connected with bond wires to a conductor in the second redistribution layer. A second encapsulation layer embeds the second and third semiconductor dies, the wires, and the conductor in the second redistribution layer. |
| US08669137B2 |
Copper post solder bumps on substrate
A method comprises forming semiconductor flip chip interconnects where the flip chip comprises a wafer and a substrate having electrical connecting pads and electrically conductive posts operatively associated with the pads and extending away from the pads to terminate in distal ends. Solder bumping the distal ends by injection molding solder onto the distal ends produces a solder bumped substrate. Another embodiment comprises providing the substrate having the posts on the pads with a mask having a plurality of through hole reservoirs and aligning the reservoirs in the mask to be substantially concentric with the distal ends. This is followed by injecting liquid solder into the reservoirs to provide a volume of liquid solder on the distal ends, cooling the liquid solder in the reservoirs to solidify the solder, removing the mask to expose the solidified solder after the cooling and thereby provide a solder bumped substrate. This is followed by positioning the solder bumped substrate on a wafer in a manner that leaves a gap between the wafer and the substrate. The wafer has electrically conductive sites on the surface for soldering to the posts. Abutting the sites and the solder bumped posts followed by heating the solder to its liquidus temperature joins the wafer and substrate, after which, the gap is optionally filled with a material comprising an underfill. |
| US08669133B2 |
Crosstalk improvement through P on N structure for image sensor
The present disclosure provides an image sensor semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first type of dopant; a semiconductor layer having a second type of dopant different from the first type of dopant and disposed on the semiconductor substrate; and an image sensor formed in the semiconductor layer. |
| US08669130B2 |
Fringe field switching liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same
A fringe field switching (FFS) liquid crystal display (LCD) device which uses an organic insulating layer and consumes less power, in which film quality of an upper layer of a low temperature protective film is changed to improve undercut within a pad portion contact hole, and a method for fabricating the same is provided. |
| US08669129B2 |
Method for producing group III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device, group III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device, and lamp
One object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a group III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device which has excellent productivity and produce a group III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device and a lamp, a method for producing a group III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device, in which a buffer layer (12) made of a group III nitride is laminated on a substrate (11), an n-type semiconductor layer (14) comprising a base layer (14a), a light-emitting layer (15), and a p-type semiconductor layer (16) are laminated on the buffer layer (12) in this order, comprising: a pretreatment step in which the substrate (11) is treated with plasma; a buffer layer formation step in which the buffer layer (12) having a composition represented by AlxGa1-xN (0≦x<1) is formed on the pretreated substrate (11) by activating with plasma and reacting at least a metal gallium raw material and a gas containing a group V element; and a base layer formation step in which the base layer (14a) is formed on the buffer layer (12). |
| US08669127B2 |
Method for manufacturing an organic light emitting diode display
Making an OLED display, includes forming a first storage plate and a gate insulating layer covering the first storage plate on a substrate; sequentially forming a second storage plate covering the first storage plate and a capacitor intermediate on the gate insulating layer; forming a first doping region by injecting an impurity to a part that is not covered by the capacitor intermediate in the first storage plate; forming an interlayer insulating layer having a capacitor opening exposing the capacitor intermediate, and a plurality of erosion preventing layers on an edge of the capacitor intermediate toward the first doping region in the capacitor opening; removing the capacitor intermediate including the erosion preventing layer and a lower region of the erosion preventing layer, and injecting an impurity in the first storage plate through the second storage plate to form a second doping region contacting the first doping region. |
| US08669124B2 |
Apparatus and method for molecule detection using nanopores
A detector device and method of its fabrication are disclosed. Illustratively, an additional via is present through an insulator layer over a gate channel region which is on top of the channel region. The additional via is filled with conductor material. The conductor material is removed to form a chamber leading to one side of the gate channel region. Furthermore, a nanopore is etched from the chamber through the channel region. |
| US08669120B2 |
High capacity solid phase
A high capacity solid phase for bioaffinity assays and other solid phase applications prepared by coating a solid support with an analyte-specific biomolecule in the presence of a zwitterionic additive is described. Structures prepared according to the invention provide high capacity solid phases with enhanced binding properties, which are advantageous for any solid phase based assay. |
| US08669111B2 |
Buffers for stabilizing biological specimens and their use
The present invention provides reagents and methods for limiting adsorptive and/or oxidative protein losses in a sample. |
| US08669104B1 |
Agents and method for treating inflammation-related conditions and diseases
Gene-modified, inflammation-specific monocytes that comprise a 1-alpha-hydroxylase gene, where the 1-alpha-hydroxylase gene is expressed to produce functional 1-alpha-hydroxylase enzyme when the monocytes transdifferentiate into gene-modified, inflammation-specific macrophages. Gene-modified, inflammation-specific macrophages that comprise a 1-alpha-hydroxylase gene. A method for treating one or more than one inflammation-related condition or disease, the method comprising administering gene-modified, inflammation-specific monocytes that comprise a 1-alpha-hydroxylase gene, where the 1-alpha-hydroxylase gene is expressed to produce functional 1-alpha-hydroxylase enzyme when the monocytes transdifferentiate into gene-modified, inflammation-specific macrophages. |
| US08669102B2 |
Modulation of prion expression
Disclosed herein are compounds and methods for decreasing PrP and preventing, ameliorating, or treating a prion disease or conformational neurodegenerative disorder, in an individual in need thereof. Examples of disease conditions that can be ameliorated with the administration of antisense compounds targeted to PrP include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD); variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD); Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome; fatal familial insomnia; kuru; Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), e.g. “mad cow disease”; Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD); scrapie; transmissible mink encephalopathy; feline spongiform encephalopathy; ungulate spongiform encephalopathy; Alzheimer's disease; Parkinson's disease; Huntington's disease; and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). |
| US08669099B2 |
Bioprocessing
Bioreactors are provided that include a vessel and a jet mixer disposed in the vessel. Methods that utilize the bioreactors are provided, involving placing a microorganism or cells and a fluid medium in the bioreactor. |
| US08669096B2 |
System and method for isolation of samples
Systems and methods for isolating samples are provided. The system comprises a first membrane and a second membrane disposed within an enclosure. First and second reservoirs can also be disposed within the enclosure and adapted to contain one or more reagents therein. A first valve can be disposed within the enclosure and in fluid communication with the first reservoir, the second reservoir, or both. The first valve can also be in fluid communication with the first or second membranes or both. The first valve can be adapted to selectively regulate the flow of the reagents from the first reservoir, through at least one of the first and second membranes, and into the second reservoir. |
| US08669095B2 |
Method for the treatment of process gas for biological H2S removal
The present invention provides a biological H2S removal system for the treatment of process gas, comprising: a housing that receives a process gas stream through a gas inlet, the housing comprising a plurality of layers through which the process gas stream flows while it is treated for H2S removal, and a gas outlet through which a treated gas stream exits; wherein air is added to the process gas stream prior to the process gas stream entering the housing. |
| US08669093B2 |
Biocatalyst for production of D-lactic acid
A method for producing D-lactic acid in high yield, and to provide a method for producing D-lactic acid with high selectivity, in which optical purity is high and a by-product organic acid is small. In one aspect, a microorganism, wherein activity of pyruvate formate-lyase (pfl) is inactivated or decreased, and further activity of Escherichia coli-derived NADH-dependent D-lactate dehydrogenase (ldhA) is enhanced, is cultured to efficiently produce D-lactic acid. With regard to a method for enhancing ldhA activity, by linking, on a genome, a gene encoding ldhA with a promoter of a gene which controls expression of a protein involved in a glycolytic pathway, a nucleic acid biosynthesis pathway or an amino acid biosynthesis pathway, suitable results are obtained compared to the method for enhancing expression of the gene using an expression vector. A microorganism in which a dld gene is substantially inactivated or decreased is cultured to produce high quality D-lactic acid with reduced concentration of pyruvic acid. |
| US08669091B2 |
Microorganisms as carriers of nucleotide sequences coding for antigens and protein toxins, process of manufacturing and uses thereof
A Escherichia, Salmonella, Yersinia, Vibrio, Listeria, Shigella, or Pseudomonas bacterium that has the following components: (I) a polynucleotide encoding a heterologous antigenic determinant that induces a CTL response against a tumor cell; (II) a polynucleotide encoding a heterologous protein toxin or toxin subunit; and (III) (a) a polynucleotide encoding a transport system that expresses the products of (I) and (II) on the outer surface of the bacterium or that secretes products of (I) and (II) from the bacterium; and (IV) a polynucleotide that activates the expression of one or more of (I). (II), and/Or (III) in the bacterium wherein polynucleotides (I), (II), (III) and (IV) are different from each other and polynucleotides (I), (II) and (III) encode proteins that are different from each other. |
| US08669090B2 |
Production of high levels of DHA in microalgae using modified amounts of chloride and potassium
Methods for production of highly unsaturated fatty acids by marine microorganisms, including the heterotrophic marine dinoflagellate Crypthecodinium, using low levels of chloride ion are disclosed. Specifically, methods of increasing production of highly unsaturated fatty acids by marine microorganisms while growing in low chloride media by manipulating sodium ion and potassium ion levels. The invention also relates to methods of production of highly unsaturated fatty acids by marine organisms at low pH levels, and includes methods for generation of low pH tolerant strains. |
| US08669089B2 |
Ulvan lyase, method for manufacturing same, and uses thereof
The present invention notably relates to ulvan lyases, to nucleic acid sequences coding for these ulvan lyases, to vectors comprising these coding sequences, to a method of manufacturing these ulvan lyases, as well as to a method of degrading ulvans using these ulvan lyases and applicable applications to the degradation products of the ulvans. The ulvan lyases of the present invention, or ulvanolytic protein, are notably defined as proteins of 30 or 46 kD comprising the following four sequences in their peptide sequence: PNDPNLK, LLEVGNTGTFGSTGS, DLANPDNV and WNLPE. |
| US08669083B2 |
Biogas apparatus and biogas production process for integration with an ethanol production system and process
An integrated system produces ethanol and biogas from raw plant materials. The system includes a pretreatment apparatus for converting raw plant materials into sugars and a fermenter for fermenting the sugars to produce a beer including ethanol. A distillation apparatus separates the beer into the ethanol and a whole stillage, and a separator then separates the whole stillage into a thin stillage and wet distillers grains. A biogas apparatus processes a first portion of the thin stillage to produce biogas and a biogas effluent, and converts a percentage of the non-fermentable solids and organic acids in the thin stillage into biogas. The pretreatment apparatus is supplied with an amount of fresh water and an amount of backset, the backset including the biogas effluent recycled from the biogas apparatus to the pretreatment apparatus. |
| US08669080B2 |
Mutated D-aminotransferase and method for producing optically active glutamic acid derivatives using the same
A D-aminotransferase can be modified so as to efficiently produce (2R,4R)-monatin having high sweetness intensity from 4-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-hydroxy-2-oxoglutaric acid by mutating the amino acid sequence of a wild-type D-aminotransferase represented in SEQ ID NO:4. |
| US08669076B1 |
Cow rumen xylose isomerases active in yeast cells
Polypeptides were identified among translated coding sequences from a metagenomic cow rumen database, that were shown to provide xylose isomerase activity in yeast cells. The xylose isomerase activity can complete a xylose utilization pathway so that yeast can use xylose in fermentation, such as xylose in biomass hydrolysate. |
| US08669075B2 |
Method for the immobilization of biologically active polypeptides by using maltose binding protein
The present invention relates to a method for immobilization of a biologically active polypeptide using maltose binding protein (MBP) and a biologically active solid substrate on which a biologically active polypeptide is immobilized by the above method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for immobilization of a biologically active polypeptide comprising the following steps; 1) preparing a fusion protein by linking a biologically active polypeptide to carboxyl terminal of maltose binding protein (MBP); and 2) immobilizing the fusion protein on the hydrophobic surface by physical adsorption of amino terminal containing hydrophobic domain exposed on the surface of maltose binding protein on the hydrophobic surface of a solid substrate, and a biologically active solid substrate on which a biologically active polypeptide is immobilized by the said method. |
| US08669073B2 |
Compositions of orthogonal lysyl-tRNA and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase pairs and uses thereof
Compositions and methods of producing components of protein biosynthetic machinery that include orthogonal lysyl-tRNAs, orthogonal lysyl-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and orthogonal pairs of lysyl-tRNAs/synthetases, which incorporate homoglutamines into proteins are provided in response to a four base codon. Methods for identifying these orthogonal pairs are also provided along with methods of producing proteins with homoglutamines using these orthogonal pairs. |
| US08669072B2 |
Oxadiazoline ligands for modulating the expression of exogenous genes via an ecdysone receptor complex
The present invention relates to non-steroidal ligands for use in nuclear receptor-based inducible gene expression system, and a method to modulate exogenous gene expression in which an ecdysone receptor complex comprising: a DNA binding domain; a ligand binding domain; a transactivation domain; and a ligand is contacted with a DNA construct comprising: the exogenous gene and a response element; wherein the exogenous gene is under the control of the response element and binding of the DNA binding domain to the response element in the presence of the ligand results in activation or suppression of the gene. |
| US08669071B2 |
Method for estimating the number of microorganisms in a sample and device for implementing said method
A method for counting microorganisms present in a biological sample in contact with a culture medium adapted to the growth of said microorganisms, Number NSA of microorganisms present in the sample is determined at a prior stage, Number NSU of microorganisms present at a subsequent stage is calculated according to number NSA. The calculation is based on a model of microorganism growth in the culture medium according to: log(NSU)=α×log(NSA)−β×log(CSA)+γ, where log is the decimal logarithm, NSU is the calculated number of microorganisms, NSA is the number of microorganisms at the prior stage, CSA is the number of microorganisms at the prior stage divided by the volume of the sample, and α, β, and γ are determined parameters depending on the microorganisms, the culture medium, and the time period separating the subsequent stage from the prior stage, α and β being positive. |
| US08669070B2 |
Procurement extraction bag
There is disclosed a method of procuring allograft tissue. In an embodiment, the method includes inserting an allograft through an opening into a procurement extraction container, sealing the opening, adding extraction fluid through a second opening, agitating the fluid, collecting the fluid for detection of contamination, and sealing the second opening. There is disclosed a procurement extraction container. In one embodiment, the container includes a wall defining an interior to receive the allograft, an opening into the interior, sized to receive the allograft, a closure device for the opening, the closure device providing a hermetic seal, a second opening providing a second passageway into the interior, the second opening having a connector interface and a second closure device providing a hermetic seal so as to provide, with the first closure and the at least one wall, a sterile barrier. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08669065B1 |
Methods for identifying molecules that modulate lipid binding sites of ion channels
A method for identifying molecules that selectively bind to a lipid binding site of a native integral membrane bound protein, includes (i) providing a solubilized integral membrane protein in a detergent micelle and having a native folding conformation; (ii) providing a soluble lipid analog that binds to the integral membrane protein at the native lipid binding site and causes a change in fluorescence of a fluorophore when bound as compared to unbound; and (iii) screening the solubilized integral membrane protein for binding to a plurality of compounds. |
| US08669060B2 |
Methods and compositions for detecting cancers associated with methylation of hMLH1 promoter DNA
Methods are provided for detection of cancers associated with methylation of hMLH1 promoter DNA in a subject. The method comprise assaying for the presence of methylated hMLH1 promoter DNA in a bodily fluid from a subject. In one embodiment, the method comprises reacting DNA from the sample with a chemical compound that converts non-methylated cytosine bases but not methylated cytosine bases, to a different nucleotide base. The compound-converted DNA is then amplified using a methylation-sensitive polymerase chain reaction (MSP) employing primers that amplify the compound-converted DNA template. The present invention also provides nucleotide primer sequences for use in the methylation-sensitive PCR assay. |
| US08669056B2 |
Compositions, methods, and systems for inferring bovine breed
Provided herein are methods to discover and use single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) for identifying breed, or line and breed, or line composition of a bovine subject. The present invention further provides specific nucleic acid sequences, SNPs, and SNP patterns that can be used for identifying breed or breed combinations for Angus, Holstein, Limousin, Brahman, Hereford, Simmental, Gelbvieh, Charolais and Beefmaster breeds. These patterns can be utilized to manage animals in a feedlot to obtain optimum performance based on known characteristics of specific breeds and identify animals for breeding in selection programs. In another aspect, these patterns can be used to ensure labeling on breed specific branded products. |
| US08669055B2 |
Methods and articles for strand-specific polynucleotide detection with conjugated polymers
The invention further relates to conjugated polymers, and methods, articles and compositions employing them as described herein. In some aspects, the invention relates to methods, articles and compositions for the detection and analysis of biomolecules in a sample. Provided assays include those determining the presence of a target biomolecule in a sample or its relative amount, or the assays may be quantitative or semi-quantitative. The methods can be performed on a substrate. The methods can be performed in an array format on a substrate, which can be a sensor. In some embodiments, detection assays are provided employing sensor biomolecules that do not comprise a fluorophore that can exchange energy with the cationic multichromophore. In some aspects biological assays are provided in which energy is transferred between one or more of the multichromophore, a label on the target biomolecule, a label on the sensor biomolecule, and/or a fluorescent dye specific for a polynucleotide, in all permutations. The multichromophore may interact at least in part electrostatically with the sensor and/or the target, and an increase in energy transfer with the polymer may occur upon binding of the sensor and the target. Other variations of the inventions are described further herein. |
| US08669053B2 |
Compositions and methods for preparing oligonucleotide solutions
The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for generating a pool of oligonucleotides. The invention finds use in preparing a population or subpopulations of oligonucleotides in solution. The pool of oligonucleotides finds use in a variety of nucleic acid detection and/or amplification assays. |
| US08669047B2 |
Real-time detection of influenza virus
The present invention provides system and methods for detecting an analyte indicative of an influenza viral infection in a sample of bodily fluid. The present invention also provides for systems and method for detection a plurality of analytes, at least two of which are indicative of an influenza viral infection in a sample of bodily fluid. |
| US08669040B2 |
Method of manufacturing relief printing plate and printing plate precursor for laser engraving
The invention provides a method of manufacturing a relief printing plate having at least engraving an area which is in a relief forming layer of a relief printing plate precursor for laser engraving and is to be exposed by scanning exposure using a fiber-coupled semiconductor laser which emits laser beam with a wavelength of 700 nm to 1,300 nm. The relief printing plate precursor has at least a relief forming layer provided over a support, and the relief forming layer contains at least a binder polymer and a photo-thermal conversion agent. The invention further provides a relief printing plate precursor for laser engraving which can be used in the method of manufacturing a relief printing plate. |
| US08669039B2 |
Flexographic printing precursors and methods of making
A mixture of an elastomer, carbon black, and inorganic fillers provides a highly useful laser-ablatable flexographic printing plate precursor formulation. This formulation is sensitive to infrared radiation. Both flexographic printing plates and printing sleeves can be made using the mixture. |
| US08669038B2 |
Polyimide-based polymers, copolymers thereof and positive type photoresist compositions comprising the same
Polyimide-based polymers and copolymers thereof are provided. Further provided is a positive type photoresist composition comprising at least one of the polyimide-based polymers and copolymers thereof as a binder resin. The photoresist composition exhibits high resolution, high sensitivity, excellent film characteristics and improved mechanical properties, which are required for the formation of semiconductor buffer coatings. |
| US08669036B2 |
Producing method of toner
Disclosed is a producing method of a decolorizable toner, comprising dispersing a mixed composition containing encapsulated colorant particles which are particles containing a color developable compound and a color developing agent and coated with an outer shell, a polymerizable monomer, and a release agent in an aqueous medium, and subjecting the polymerizable monomer to suspension polymerization in the aqueous medium. |
| US08669035B2 |
Process for preparing toner including a borax coupling agent
A method for producing toner according to one example embodiment includes combining and agglomerating a first polymer emulsion with a colorant dispersion and a release agent dispersion to form toner cores. A borax coupling agent is added to the toner cores. A second polymer emulsion is combined and agglomerated with the toner cores having the borax coupling agent to form toner shells around the toner cores. The aggregated toner cores and toner shells are fused to form toner particles. |
| US08669032B2 |
Electrostatic-image-developing toner, production method thereof, electrostatic image developer, and image forming apparatus
An electrostatic-image-developing toner includes a binder resin that contains a crystalline polyester resin and an amorphous polyester resin; and a coloring agent, wherein the crystalline polyester resin has a melting temperature Tmc of about 25° C. or greater but not greater than about 50° C., and a content of the crystalline polyester resin in the electrostatic-image-developing toner is about 3 wt % or greater but not greater than about 15 wt. %. |
| US08669028B2 |
Electrophotographic photoreceptor, method for producing electrophotographic photoreceptor, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge
An electrophotographic photoreceptor is provided, which includes: a substrate; a photosensitive layer; and a surface protective layer, in this order, in which the protective layer contains a crosslinked product of a curable charge transporting material in a content of from about 90 to 98% by weight, and fluorinated resin particles in a content of from about 2 to 10% by weight, and the protective layer satisfies Formula (1): 0.5≦b/a≦1, wherein, “a” represents a ratio of fluorine atoms to the sum of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms, and fluorine atoms present in a region of the protective layer ranging from the photosensitive layer side surface thereof to a point corresponding to about ⅔ of the thickness thereof, and “b” represents the ratio in a region of the protective layer ranging from the outer surface thereof to a point corresponding to about ⅓ of the thickness thereof. |
| US08669025B2 |
Polymerizable composition, cured film, color filter, method of producing color filter and solid-state image sensor
The invention provides a polymerizable composition including an oxime ester photopolymerization initiator, an organic acid anhydride having a molecular weight of 300 or less, and a polymerizable compound. |
| US08669023B2 |
Method for optical proximity correction of a reticle to be manufactured using shaped beam lithography
In the field of semiconductor production using shaped charged particle beam lithography, a method and system for fracturing or mask data preparation or proximity effect correction is disclosed, wherein a series of curvilinear character projection shots are determined for a charged particle beam writer system, such that the set of shots can form a continuous track, possibly of varying width, on a surface. A method for forming a continuous track on a surface using a series of curvilinear character projection shots is also disclosed. Methods for manufacturing a reticle and for manufacturing a substrate such as a silicon wafer by forming a continuous track on a surface using a series of curvilinear character projection shots is also disclosed. |
| US08669016B2 |
Swirl chamber for a fuel cell cooling manifold
A fuel cell manifold holding pressurized cooling fluid is attached to a plurality of cells. A swirl chamber communicating cooling fluid from the manifold to the cells slows the speed of the cooling fluid and lowers its pressure as it enters a fuel cell cooling path. |
| US08669010B2 |
Nonaqueous secondary battery
A nonaqueous secondary battery comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode is provided with a current collector composed of a film-like or fibrous resin layer having a conductive layer on both sides, and the separator has a higher thermal deformation temperature than the resin layer. |
| US08669007B2 |
Non-aqueous cell having amorphous or semi-crystalline copper manganese oxide cathode material
The present disclosure relates generally to a high capacity cathode material suitable for use in a non-aqueous electrochemical cell that comprises copper manganese oxide, which may be in amorphous or semi-crystalline form, and optionally fluorinated carbon. The present disclosure additionally relates to a non-aqueous electrochemical cell comprising such a cathode material and, in particular, to such a non-aqueous electrochemical cell that can deliver a higher capacity than conventional cell. |
| US08669006B2 |
Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery and battery module
A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, having an internal resistance of 10 mΩ or less as an alternating-current impedance value of 1 kHz, comprises a metal outer container, a nonaqueous electrolyte contained in the container, a positive electrode contained in the container, a negative electrode contained in the container, a separator interposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, a negative electrode lead having one end connected to the negative electrode, and a negative electrode terminal attached to the outer container so as to be connected electrically to the other end of the negative electrode lead, at least the surface of the negative electrode terminal which is connected to the negative electrode lead being formed of aluminum alloy with an aluminum purity of less than 99 wt. % containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mg, Cr, Mn, Cu, Si, Fe and Ni. |
| US08668999B2 |
Lithium primary battery
A lithium primary battery 10 includes an electrode group in which a positive electrode 1 having iron disulfide as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode 2 having lithium as a negative electrode active material are wound, with a separator 3 interposed between the positive electrode 1 and the negative electrode, wherein a density of the iron disulfide in a positive electrode mixture containing the positive electrode active material is in a range of 2.2-2.9 g/cm3, and the separator 3 is made of a non-woven fabric whose tensile strength is in a range of 6-30 N/mm2. |
| US08668996B2 |
Battery pack
A battery pack is disclosed. The battery pack includes a bare cell comprising a cap plate and an electrode terminal positioned on a center region of the cap plate; an insulating layer positioned over the cap plate, wherein the insulating layer comprises a first terminal hole formed in a region corresponding to the electrode terminal; and a protective circuit module positioned over the insulating layer, wherein the protective circuit module comprises a protective circuit board having a second terminal hole formed in a region corresponding to the electrode terminal. |
| US08668994B2 |
Rolled copper foil or electrolytic copper foil for electronic circuit, and method of forming electronic circuit using same
Provided is a rolled copper foil or electrolytic copper foil for an electronic circuit to be used for forming a circuit by etching, wherein the copper foil comprises a nickel or nickel alloy layer with a lower etching rate than copper formed on an etching side of the rolled copper foil or electrolytic copper foil, and a heat resistance layer composed of zinc or zinc alloy or its oxide formed on the nickel or nickel alloy layer. This invention aims to prevent sagging caused by the etching, to form a uniform circuit having the intended circuit width, and to shorten the time of forming a circuit by etching as much as possible, when forming a circuit by etching a copper foil of the copper-clad laminate; and also aims to make the thickness of the nickel or nickel alloy layer as thin as possible, to inhibit oxidation when exposed to heat, to prevent tarnish (discoloration) known as “YAKE”, to improve the etching properties in pattern etching, and to prevent the occurrence of short circuits and defects in the circuit width. |
| US08668991B2 |
Curable resins for LED encapsulation
The present invention relates to a curable organopolysiloxane composition, which comprises: (A) an organocyclosiloxane having alkenyl groups, represented by the following formula (I) wherein n=3 or 4; (B) a hydrosilicone resin of formula (II) (R1R2R3SiO1/2)M.(R4R5SiO2/2)D.(R6SiO3/2)T.(SiO4/2)Q (II) wherein R1 to R5 are identical or different groups selected from organic groups and hydrogen atom, and at least one of R1 to R5 is a hydrogen atom directly bonded to a silicon atom, and on average at least two hydrogen atoms directly bonded to silicon atoms are contained in one hydrosilicone resin molecule, R6 is an organic group identical to or different from R1 to R5, as organic groups R1 to R6 may independently be linear/branched alkyl or alkenyl groups having 1-20 carbon atoms or halides thereof; cycloalkyl groups or cycloalkenyl groups having 5-25 carbon atoms or halides thereof; M, T and Q each represents a number ranging from 0 to less than 1, 0 |
| US08668990B2 |
Heat treatable four layer anti-reflection coating
A coated article includes a heat treatable (e.g., temperable) antireflection (AR) coating having four layers. The AR coating includes a layer adjacent the glass substrate having an index of refraction substantially matching that of the glass substrate, and having a compressive residual stress. In certain example embodiments, the coating may include the following layers from the glass substrate outwardly: stress-reducing layer/medium index layer/high index layer/low index layer. In certain example embodiments, depending on the chemical and optical properties of the high index layer and the substrate, the stress-reducing layer of the AR coating is selected to cause a net compressive residual stress and thus improve the overall performance of the antireflection coating when the coated article is heat treated. |
| US08668989B2 |
Vehicular sliding window assembly
A sliding window assembly for a vehicle includes a frameless fixed portion having first and second glass window portions and includes a sliding portion having a glass window panel. The sliding window assembly is a horizontal sliding window assembly and is configured for mounting at an opening of a bodywork of the vehicle. Upper and lower track members are adhesively attached at the rear surface of the first and second fixed glass window portions and no portion of the upper and lower track members is in contact with the front surface of the first and second fixed glass window portions. A glide member is longitudinally movable along the lower track member to facilitate movement of the glass window panel between its opened and closed positions. The fixed portion is adhesively bonded to the bodywork at a frameless periphery of the fixed portion that faces the interior of the vehicle. |
| US08668988B2 |
Polyurethane panel
Building panels are ubiquitous in the building industry and are used to form walls, doors or other partitions, either of a structural or non-structural nature. Polyurethane can be formed into a panel which is rigid and can function in the same manner as conventional panels formed from wood and other material. The panel is able to be cut, screwed, drilled, painted, laminated or veneered. While laminating or veneering polyurethane panels with, for example, melamine or plywood, improves strength and rigidity, this is at a cost to flexibility and, consequently, the applicability of panels. The invention defined herein therefore relates to an improved polyurethane panel which overcomes the disadvantages of those which have gone before. The panel of the invention finds particular use, although not exclusive use, in building and construction. |
| US08668987B2 |
Electrophotographic electrically conductive member
The present invention provides an electrophotographic electrically conductive member in which conductivity needed for a charging member is secured, and defects in an image attributed to uneven discharging can be minimized independently of a long-term use and an environment of use. An electrophotographic electrically conductive member comprising an electrically conductive support and an electrically conductive layer, wherein the electrically conductive layer includes an ion conductive resin having a quaternary ammonium ion in a molecule structure as a binder resin, and a carrier molecule represented by the following formula (1) or (2): (wherein n1 and n2 each independently represent an integer of 1 to 4). |
| US08668986B2 |
Aromatic aldimines and polyurethane compositions which contain aldimine
The present invention relates to aromatic aldimines, which are based on primary aromatic polyamines, which are solid at room temperature and liquid at room temperature and which have the lowest possible viscosity, hydrolyze with little odor, and can be used as blocked amines in curable compositions, in particular in compositions having one-component and two-component isocyanate groups. Said compositions have a relatively long open time, but cure surprisingly rapidly, said curing occurring without strong odor formation and without bubbling. In addition, the compositions have outstanding mechanical properties after curing, in particular high strength with high ductility, and good resistance to heat and moisture. |
| US08668983B2 |
Epoxy resin composition for fiber reinforced composite material
The present invention provides an epoxy resin composition for a fiber reinforced composite material comprising an epoxy resin (A) comprising an epoxy resin (a1) having a weight average molecular weight of up to 1,000 and an epoxy resin (a2) having a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 100,000 which contains at least 20% by weight of the basic skeleton of the epoxy resin (a1), a thermoplastic resin (B), and a curing agent (C). The cured composition has a co-continuous phase of the epoxy resin (A) and the thermoplastic resin (B) and/or a continuous phase of the thermoplastic resin (B). A cured product having a high toughness can be obtained from this epoxy resin composition. |
| US08668981B2 |
High temperature shape memory polymer via reactive extrusion
Shape memory polymer compositions and methods of using those compositions to make products are provided. The compositions include a thermoplastic polymer and a high thermal stability free radical source, and they are extruded together to form the final shape memory product. |
| US08668980B2 |
Filled polyimide films and coverlays comprising such films
The present disclosure relates generally to filled polyimides that can be used in films and articles comprising the films. The films are useful in coverlay applications and have advantageous optical properties. The present disclosure also relates to blends of polyimide precursor, polyacrylonitrile, and cellulosic polymer which can be used to obtain the filled polyimides. |
| US08668979B2 |
Low-cost tough decorative printable film products having holographic-type images
Tough decorative printable film products having holographic-type images are provided that are low in cost. These film products include a relatively high temperature film that is made by continuous extrusion of the film resin onto a master film having pre-etched holographic-type imaging in order to provide a high-temperature primary film with conforming holographic imaging. This primary film provides a tough holographic-type image that is readily secured to any number of products to impart a holographic character to them. For example, this primary film is suitable for use on the surface of recreational sportsboards. When desired, sublimation printing can be used to impart indicia, text, images and colors, alone or in combination, to the primary film. |
| US08668977B2 |
Support structures and methods
A support structure includes a first layer of foam material and a second layer of elastomeric gel material. In accordance with one example, the first layer of foam material includes a first side with a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of channels with the second layer of elastomeric gel material disposed within the plurality of channels. In accordance with another example, the first layer of foam material includes a first side with a plurality of protrusions and a network of channels surrounding at least one of the plurality of protrusions with the second layer of elastomeric gel material disposed within the network of channels. A third layer extends over the first support surface of the protrusions and the second support surface of the second layer of gel material. In accordance with yet another example, the first layer of foam material includes a first side with a plurality of protrusions extending through corresponding Shapertures of the second layer. In accordance with further examples, methods of making a support structure with a first layer of foam material and a second layer of elastomeric gel material are provided. |
| US08668976B2 |
Intermediate transfer member and composition
There is described an intermediate transfer member comprising a seamless layer comprising a polyphenylsulfone and a polysiloxane having dispersed therein carbon black particles. The composition used to manufacture the seamless intermediate transfer member is also described. |
| US08668975B2 |
Fabric with discrete elastic and plastic regions and method for making same
An in situ compositionally modulated meltspun fabric and method for making the same. The meltspun fabric has at least one layer comprising a plurality of discrete regions of fiber. At least two discrete regions of fiber are inelastic or extensible and at least one discrete region of fiber is elastic or extensible. The layer is compositionally modulated in the cross direction. |
| US08668970B2 |
Use of an antimony-free polyester film for producing film bags and film tubes with high heat resistance
Film bags or film tubes formed from biaxially oriented film including less than 10 ppm of antimony and having a haze of less than 10% are provided. The films have an ultimate tensile strength of more than 100 N/mm2; have a difference in the ultimate tensile strength in MD and TD of less than 180 N/mm2; have a tensile strain at break of more than 50%; a tensile strain at break of more than 260%; have a yellowness index b* of less than 2.5; have a lightness L*>85; include from 50 to 15 000 ppm of free-radical scavenger; have an SV of at least 600 after ovening; have a tensile strain at break of >5% after ovening; have a film thickness of from 6 to 26 μm; and include more than 90% by weight of polyester. |
| US08668969B2 |
Myoglobin blooming agent containing shrink films, packages and methods for packaging
Heat shrinkable, oxygen barrier, packaging films, methods of packaging and packages are provided having a myoglobin blooming agent to provide, promote, enhance or maintain a desirable coloration on the surface of a myoglobin-containing meat product. |
| US08668968B2 |
Composition for plug in base-isolated structure, plug for base-isolated structure and base-isolated structure
This invention relates to a composition for plug in a base-isolated structure capable of providing a plug for base-isolated structure having sufficient damping performance, displacement following property and the like, and more particularly to a composition for plug in a base-isolated structure characterized by including powder and an elastomer composition formed by compounding an elastomer component with a reinforcing filler. |
| US08668967B2 |
Embellishment transfer delivery system
An embellishment transfer delivery system (ETDS) uses an embellishment, such as glitter, and combines it into a transfer adhesive that is combined with a carrier sheet and finally transferred to a sticky substrate, such as a double sided tape. The result is the clean, particle-free, non-tacky, dry transfer of the embellishment to cover an object with precise, complete and detailed coverage. The ETDS is a clean and fully transferrable system of holding, containing and transferring glitter or other embellishments to a double sided tape that allows for detailed coverage and no residual mess or airborne particles. The embellishment is suspended in an adhesive which is then coated onto a pressure sensitive carrier sheet to create the ETDS. The embellishment transfers from the ETDS and bonds to the application in a way that allows for a clean, detailed finished product without any of the mess, stickiness or wait time traditional delivery systems would entail. |
| US08668964B2 |
Dioxolane compound, liquid crystal composition, liquid crystal element, and liquid crystal display device
A novel dioxolane compound represented by the general formula (G1) is provided. In the general formula (G1), R1 and R2 separately represent any of hydrogen, an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and an alkylene group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and a phenyl group as a substituent; a1 and a2 separately represent any of an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and a single bond; Ar1 and Ar2 separately represent an aryl group having 6 to 16 carbon atoms; and R3 to R38 separately represent any of hydrogen, an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms. |
| US08668960B1 |
Flow coating apparatus and method of coating
Disclosed is a flow coating apparatus, comprising a slot that can dispense a coating material in an approximately uniform manner along a distribution blade that increases uniformity by means of surface tension and transfers the uniform flow of coating material onto an inclined substrate such as for example glass, solar panels, windows or part of an electronic display. Also disclosed is a method of flow coating a substrate using the apparatus such that the substrate is positioned correctly relative to the distribution blade, a pre-wetting step is completed where both the blade and substrate are completed wetted with a pre-wet solution prior to dispensing of the coating material onto the distribution blade from the slot and hence onto the substrate. Thereafter the substrate is removed from the distribution blade and allowed to dry, thereby forming a coating. |
| US08668958B2 |
Mascara applicator brush having germicidal properties, and production method thereof
A mascara applicator brush is provided, including polymer bristles which are coated with a germicidal composition. The aforementioned composition is made from a mixture based on at least one large cation and at least one large anion, in which one or both develop germicidal properties. |
| US08668957B2 |
Method of forming dielectric films, new precursors and their use in semiconductor manufacturing
Method of deposition on a substrate, of a metal containing dielectric film comprising a compound of the formula (I): (M11-aM2a)ObNc, (I) wherein 0≦a<1, 0 |
| US08668954B2 |
Algae resistant roofing granules with controlled algaecide leaching rates, algae resistant shingles and process for producing same
Algae-resistant roofing shingles are formed by extruding a mixture of mineral particles and a binder to form porous granule bodies, and algaecide is distributed in the pores to provide alqae-resistant granules, which are subsequently applied to roofing shingles. Release of the algaecide is controlled by the structure of the granules. |
| US08668953B1 |
Annealing process for electroless coated disks for high temperature applications
A method of manufacturing a disk for a magnetic storage device is provided. The method comprises electroless plating a coating layer over a substrate to produce the disk, the coating layer forming an exterior surface of coating over the substrate, and annealing the coating layer using a heating source, wherein heat radiating from the heating source is directionally focused onto the exterior surface before the exterior surface is polished. |
| US08668952B2 |
Carbon wire and nanostructure formed of carbon film and method of producing the same
There are provided a carbon wire using CNT or a similar carbon filament having a sufficiently low electrical resistance value, and a wire assembly employing that carbon wire. A carbon wire includes an assembly portion and a graphite layer. The assembly portion is configured of a plurality of carbon filaments implemented as carbon nanotubes in contact with one another. The graphite layer is provided at an outer circumference of the assembly portion. |
| US08668946B2 |
Solid product comprising oil-droplets
The present invention concerns a solid product comprising oil-droplets having a diameter in the range of 0.1 to 100 microns, cross-linked proteins at the interface of said droplets and any polar, low molecular compound in between the cross-linked protein interfaces. |
| US08668943B2 |
Hair care compositions for promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss
A hair care composition that prevents hair loss and stimulates hair growth is disclosed. The hair care composition of the present invention comprises natural ingredients including one and/or more carrier oils, one and/or more essential oils, and fragrance oil. The preferred embodiment including Shea Butter, Extra Virgin Olive oil, Jojoba oil, Vanilla fragrance oil, Peppermint essential oil, Lavender essential oil, Tea Tree essential oil, Clary Sage essential oil, and Rosemary essential oil is provided. |
| US08668939B2 |
Bioactive botanical cosmetic compositions and processes for their production
The present invention is directed to bioactive botanical cosmetic compositions derived from membrane and cell serum fractions of plant cell juice. The present invention also relates to the methods for preparing these bioactive botanical cosmetic compositions and the uses of these compositions in various cosmetic formulations and as topical skin cosmetic applications. |
| US08668937B2 |
Topical nitric oxide systems and methods of use thereof
The present invention generally relates to compositions and methods for transdermal drug delivery. The compositions can be used in a variety of applications, including treating erectile dysfunction or sexual dysfunction, treating wounds, or causing or promoting hair growth. For example, in one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to compositions for delivery of nitric oxide, transdermally and/or to a mucosal surface. The composition may include nitric oxide. The nitric oxide may be present within a first phase comprising a lecithin, such as phosphatidylcholine. In certain embodiments, the lecithin is present in liposomes, micelles, or other vesicles containing nitric oxide. The composition can take the form of a gel, a cream, a lotion, an ointment, a solution, a solid “stick,” etc., that can be rubbed or sprayed onto the skin, e.g., onto the penis, vulva, or other suitable portion of the skin. The composition can also be applied to a mucosal surface in some instances. In some embodiments, a composition comprising nitric oxide is unexpectedly stable and can be stored long-term. Thus, for example, a composition of the invention may exhibit a long shelf life, with little loss or reaction of nitric oxide. This may be particularly useful for certain applications such as consumer products, including those described herein. Other aspects of the present invention are generally directed to methods of making or using such compositions, methods of promoting such compositions, kits including such compositions, or the like. |
| US08668934B2 |
Pharmaceutical formulation comprising a water-insoluble active agent
A method of preparing a pharmaceutical formulation comprises providing a solution comprising a first solvent, a second solvent, an active agent, and an excipient. The second solvent is less polar than the first solvent and the excipient is more soluble in water than the active agent. The first and second solvents are removed from the solution to produce particles comprising the active agent and the excipient. In one version, the excipient comprises an amino acid and/or a phospholipid. A pharmaceutical formulation made by a version of the invention comprises particles comprising an active agent and an excipient which at least partially encapsulates the active agent, wherein the excipient is more soluble in water than the active agent. |
| US08668933B2 |
Polyion complex of double-stranded ribonucleic acid
Provided are a delivery system that is useful in delivering a double-stranded ribonucleic acid that functions in gene silencing in glomeruli, particularly in mesangial cells and the like, to the tissue or cells, and the like. A polyion complex in the form of a non-polymeric micelle consisting of a double-stranded ribonucleic acid and a block copolymer represented by the formula (I) or (II) below, which are electrostatically bound together, wherein the polyion complex has an average particle diameter of less than 100 nm as measured by a dynamic light scattering measuring method: wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification. |
| US08668932B2 |
Extended release venlafaxine formulation
A controlled release dosage form of venlafaxine that comprises an immediate release pellet and an extended release pellet. |
| US08668931B2 |
Pharmaceutical formulation containing a biguanide and a thiazolidinedione derivative
A pharmaceutical dosage form comprising a controlled release component comprising an antihyperglycemic drug in combination with a second component comprising a thiazolidinedione derivative is herein disclosed and described. |
| US08668930B2 |
Durable film coating compositions having sustained slow-release capability, and methods of use therefor
Provided is a slow-release delivery vehicle for delivering at least one active ingredient into a film coating, comprising a population of stable, homogeneously-dispersed, porous polymeric or co-polymeric beads having a network of pores, wherein the at least one active ingredient is held within the bead particles and within the network of pores and slowly released by internal flow, and wherein the network of pores is substantially non-collapsible upon removal of the active ingredient. The porous co-polymer bead preparation comprises a continuous aqueous phase solution containing a monomeric mixture of at least one polyvinylaromatic monomer and at least one porogen forming a network that comprising (i) macropores; (ii) mesopores; (iii) micropores; and (iv) gel porosity. Also provided are methods of preparing the porous co-polymer bead preparation; and for its use as a slow-release delivery vehicle. |
| US08668928B2 |
Capsule
A capsule for a powder has a body which is provided with an internal chamber to hold the powder and first and second openings to an exterior environment. The body is adapted to be displaced from a filling state, in which the first and second openings are placed in fluid communication with one another through the internal chamber thereby enabling an airflow to be created through the body from the second opening to the first opening which is able to entrain powder in the exterior environment into the internal chamber for filling thereof, to a sealing state in which the internal chamber is sealed from the exterior environment so as to retain the powder held therein. |
| US08668921B2 |
Lipase inhibitors
The present invention provides lipase inhibitors containing dimers of flavan-3-ols derived from teas as well as foods and beverages and medicines containing said inhibitors. More specifically, the present invention provides lipase inhibitors containing at least one of assamicains represented by the formula: wherein G represents a galloyl group; theasinensins represented by the formula: wherein R1 represents G or H, and R2 represents G; and theaflavins represented by the formula: wherein R1 and R2 independently represent G or H; as well as foods and beverages and medicines containing said lipase inhibitors. |
| US08668916B2 |
HIPE-gelation process for making highly concentrated, spherical biopolymer gel particle suspensions
The invention relates to process for making highly concentrated, spherical biopolymer gel particle suspensions comprising particles of defined particle diameter (e.g., range of 1 to 50μ) utilizing high internal phase emulsion as an intermediate. |
| US08668912B2 |
Mycoplasma gallisepticum formulation
The present invention provides a formulation that prevents virulent Mycoplasma galHsepticum infection in birds of the order GaIHf ormes. The formulation comprises live Mycoplasma galHsepticum strain K5831 or derivatives thereof in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A vaccine that prevents virulent Mycoplasma galHsepticum infection in birds of the order Galliformes is also presented. Methods for administering the formulation and vaccine are also presented. |
| US08668910B2 |
Antibodies that specifically bind to the EphA2 receptor
The present disclosure relates to an antibody or an epitope-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to an EphA2 receptor. It further relates to a conjugate comprising a cytotoxic agent which is covalently bound to the antibody and a method for preparing such a conjugate. |
| US08668908B2 |
Method for alleviating chemotherapy side effects using extract of Dioscorea sp
Extract fractions of Dioscorea sp. and methods of preparing the extract fractions are disclosed. The extract fractions enhance the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow cells. Also described are a method for treatment of osteoporosis and a method for alleviation of side effects caused by chemotherapy by using the extract fractions of Dioscorea sp. |
| US08668906B2 |
Lactobacillus plantarum strains as hypocholesterolemic agents
The invention relates to a composition comprising an effective amount of at least one of the strains selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7527, Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7528, and Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7529, These new strains have good probiotic features and are useful for the prevention and/or the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. |
| US08668902B2 |
Composition with activated carbon in oral treatment
In a personal care daily practice, common human malodor in breath can be treated and eliminated or substantially reduced through the use of a treatment comestible, lozenge, chewing gum or scraper prepared by combining a hardenable natural or artificial sweetener or gum base with an amount of activated carbon effective in reducing such malodors. |
| US08668901B2 |
Use of a glucocorticoid composition for the treatment of severe and uncontrolled asthma
Methods, devices and compositions for treatment of severe and uncontrolled asthma are provided by which high amounts of an inhaled corticosteroid are directed to the small airways of the lower lungs. The invention provides for a substantial decrease in the dose of concurrently administered oral corticosteroids. A particular advantage of the invention is the significant reduction in corticosteroid-related adverse effects. |
| US08668898B1 |
Low radiocarbon dietary supplements and foods and methods of making and using same
Methods and compositions for effectively lowering the carbon-14 content, particularly of DNA and histones in vertebrates, especially humans, to significantly below normal background levels and thereby reduce chromosomal damage using nutritional or dietary supplements based on low radiocarbon DNA, amino acid and histone precursors, further preferably including those which contribute the largest share of histone carbon atoms. Administration of the supplements during the earliest and/or most active growth stages of life is particularly beneficial. Particularly useful supplements are prepared by combining low radiocarbon precursor compounds with ordinary supplement or dietary components that exhibit substantially normal background radiocarbon concentrations. |
| US08668897B2 |
Compositions and methods for hydrogen generation
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for producing hydrogen from water involving reacting metal particles with water in the presence of an effective amount of activator. In particular the invention pertains to compositions and methods for producing hydrogen upon reaction of metal particles selected from the group consisting of aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg), boron (B), silicon (Si), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) with water, in the presence of an effective amount of an activator catalyst, wherein the activator is selected from the group consisting of: alkali metals, earth alkali metals, hydrides of alkali metals, hydrides of earth alkali metals, hydroxides of alkali metals, and hydroxides of earth alkali metals. |
| US08668892B2 |
Method and system for NOx removal from a flue gas
A system for reducing NOx in a flue gas stream, including an absorption element, a first inlet in fluid communication with the chamber configured to deliver a pressurized flue gas to the chamber, and a second inlet in fluid communication with the chamber configured to deliver an absorbing additive to the chamber. An outlet is in fluid communication with the chamber to exhaust from the chamber flue gas that has contacted the absorbing additive. A method for reducing NOx in a flue gas including the steps of: providing a flue gas in a chamber of an absorption element, providing an absorbing additive so that it contacts at least a portion of the flue gas, and exhausting at least a portion of the flue gas from the chamber. |
| US08668890B2 |
Base metal catalyst composition and methods of treating exhaust from a motorcycle
Aspects of the invention relate to a method of treating a gas stream generated by a motorcycle, the method comprising: contacting a gas stream containing hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides and generated by a motorcycle under both rich and lean engine operating conditions with a base metal catalyst composition, thereby removing at least a part of the hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides in gas stream. The base metal catalyst composition comprises a support including at least 10% by weight of reducible ceria, and about 3 to about 7 wt % MnO and about 8 to about 22 wt % CuO on the reducible ceria support. The base metal catalyst composition is effective to promote a steam reforming reaction of hydrocarbons and a water gas shift reaction to provide H2 as a reductant to abate NOx. |
| US08668889B2 |
Air pollution control system and method
SOx removal equipment for reducing sulfur oxides from flue gas from a boiler, a cooler which is provided on the downstream side of the SOx removal equipment, for reducing the sulfur oxides from the flue gas and for decreasing a gas temperature, CO2 recovery equipment which includes an absorber for bringing CO2 in the flue gas into contact with a CO2 absorption liquid so as to be reduced and a regenerator for causing the CO2 absorption liquid to emit CO2 so as to recover CO2 and regenerate the CO2 absorption liquid, and dissolved salt spraying equipment for reducing a mist generation material which is a generation source of mist that is generated in the absorber of the CO2 recovery equipment before introducing the flue gas to the CO2 recovery equipment, are included. |
| US08668888B2 |
Adsorbing agent containing titanium and iron compounds
A composition containing titanium and iron compounds, in particular decomposition residue that accumulates as a production residue after the sulphate process during the production of titanium dioxide, is used as an adsorbing agent for inorganic and organic compounds, for example compounds containing phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, sulphur, selenium, tellurium, the cyano group or heavy metal. Toxic substances and pollutants may be removed from a fluid using the adsorbing agent. |
| US08668885B2 |
Aroma-diffusing heating device using a replaceable aroma capsule and the aroma capsule
An aroma-diffusing heating device includes a heating base, an aroma capsule detachably accommodated in the heating base and heatable by the heating base to give off fragrance, and a cap capped on the heating base over the aroma capsule. The aroma capsule includes a heat-transfer container defining a top opening, an aromatic substance held in the heat-transfer container, and a sealing film bonded to the heat-transfer container to seal the aromatic substance in the heat-transfer container. |
| US08668880B2 |
Apparatus for releasing a dry chemistry into a liquid sterilization system
The present invention provides an apparatus that inhibits microbial viability on a medical instrument. The apparatus has a sterilization chamber for receiving the medical instrument. A circulation system is fluidly connected to the sterilization chamber to circulate a fluid through the sterilization chamber. A well is provided to receive a chemistry container that includes a removable base portion. A device is provided to detach the removable base portion from the chemistry container. The device includes a mounting end that is mountable within the well such that the device extends into a lower portion of the well. An elongated intermediate section extends from the mounting end at a first angle. A free end extends from the elongated intermediate section at a second angle. The free end is dimensioned to matingly engage and apply a force to a mating feature on the chemistry container or on the removable base portion as the chemistry container is inserted into the well. |
| US08668876B2 |
Configuration having two interconnected exhaust gas treatment devices
A configuration includes two exhaust gas treatment devices disposed in succession in an exhaust gas line. A first exhaust gas treatment device has a first subregion connected through at least one support body to a second subregion of a second exhaust gas treatment device. The support body has opposite ends connected by connections points to respective subregions. At least the second subregion is formed by metallic components that contact one another to form contact surfaces and at most 20% of the area of the contact surfaces have brazed or solder connections and/or diffusion connections. |
| US08668870B2 |
Ion mobility spectrometer which controls carrier gas flow to improve detection
IMS apparatus has an inlet with a preconcentrator opening into a reaction region where analyte molecules are ionized and passed via a shutter to a drift region for collection and analysis. A pump and filter arrangement supplies a flushing flow of clean gas to the housing in opposition to ion flow. A pressure pulser connects with the housing and is momentarily switched to cause a short drop in pressure, in the housing to draw in a bolus of analyte sample from the preconcentrator. Just prior to admitting a bolus of sample, the pump is turned off so that the flushing flow drops substantially to zero, thereby prolonging the time the analyte molecules spend in the reaction region. |
| US08668867B2 |
Method of preparing an antimicrobial packaged medical device
A method for making an antimicrobial suture comprising the steps of positioning an antimicrobial agent source within a package comprising an inner surface, said antimicrobial agent being selected from the group consisting of halogenated hydroxyl ethers, acyloxydiphenyl ethers, and combinations thereof; positioning a medical device within the package; and subjecting the package, the antimicrobial agent source and the medical device to time, temperature and pressure conditions sufficient to vapor transfer an effective amount of the antimicrobial agent from the antimicrobial agent source to the medical device, thereby substantially inhibiting bacterial colonization on the medical device. |
| US08668864B2 |
Polymer composite materials and processes therefor
Processes for fabricating polymer composite materials that contain a polymer matrix, reinforcement fabrics, and particles of a filler material. The processes include spraying the particles of the filler material on at least two articles that each comprise at least one of the reinforcement fabrics to form particle-laden articles. The particle-laden articles are stacked to form a stacked structure, and a resin present within the stacked structure is then cured to form a laminate polymer composite material. The process can be employed in the fabrication of at least a portion of an aircraft engine nacelle, for example, the inlet lip of a fan nacelle. |
| US08668860B2 |
Plastic article and method of manufacturing the same
An in-mold-decoration method for plastic articles is provided. An uninterrupted film is provided and transported into a mold. A predetermined area of the film attaches to an inner surface of a cavity of a female mold of the mold. The predetermined area of the film is cut from the uninterrupted film during closing the mold. |
| US08668853B2 |
Method for manufacturing a three-dimensionally deformable, sheet-like reinforcing structure
A method for manufacturing a three-dimensionally deformable, sheet-like reinforcing structure, wherein material attenuations (3) are incorporated into a sheet-like, cellular base material, distributed over an area of the base material, by means of cutting or sawing, said material attenuations (3) sub-dividing the base material into a plurality of material cells (1) which are delineated from each other by the material attenuations (3) but are still connected to each other. |
| US08668848B2 |
Metal nanoparticle compositions for reflective features
A composition for the fabrication of reflective features using a direct-write tool is disclosed. The composition comprises metal nanoparticles having an average particle size less than 300 nm and which carry thereon a polymer for substantially preventing agglomeration of the nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles exhibit a metal-polymer weight ratio of 100:1 to 10:1. The composition further includes a vehicle for forming a dispersion with the metal nanoparticles. A number of electronic devices comprising a reflective layer formed from the composition are also disclosed. One example case provides an electronic device having a reflective electrode. The reflective electrode comprises a percolation network of the metal nanoparticles embedded in a matrix of the polymer and having an average particle size of less than 300 nm, wherein the reflective electrode is reflective in the visible light range and does not diffract incident light. |
| US08668846B2 |
Photoelectric conversion element and solar cell
A dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion element, comprises a pair of electrodes arranged opposite to each other; a semiconductor layer including a semiconductor supporting a sensitizing dye; and an electrolyte layer. At least the semiconductor layer and the electrolyte layer are provided between the pair of electrodes, and the sensitizing dye contains a compound represented by the following Formula (1). |
| US08668845B2 |
Method for preparing electrostatic dissipative polymer
A method for preparing an electrostatic dissipative polymer and a blend of a thermoplastic polymer and the ESD polymer is disclosed. The method for preparing an electrostatic dissipative polymer includes the step of polymerizing the electrostatic dissipative polymer in the presence of a reactive solvent and lithium salt dissolved in the reactive solvent, wherein the amount of the reactive solvent is from 0.1 to 20 weight parts based on 100 weight parts of the produced electrostatic dissipative polymer, the amount of lithium salt is from 0.1 to 5 weight parts based on 100 weight parts of the produced electrostatic dissipative polymer, and the reactive solvent is aliphatic glycol having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and having a primary alcohol group, or aromatic glycol having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms. |
| US08668844B2 |
Fluorescent material for use in CT applications
The invention relates to a Gd2O2S:Nd fluorescent material and the use of Nd3+ as emitter in suitable materials. |
| US08668843B2 |
M-C-N-O based phosphor
An M-C—N—O based phosphor including a group IIIB element (M), carbon (C), nitrogen (O), wherein an amount of the group IIIB element (M) contained is 1%<(M)<50% by mass, an amount of carbon (C) contained is 0.005%<(C)<10% by mass, an amount of nitrogen (N) contained is 1%<(N)<60% by mass, an amount of oxygen (O) contained is 1%<(O)<75% by mass, and (M)+(C)+(N)+(O)=100% by mass. Colors of the M-C—N—O based phosphor can be changed by adjusting a peak top of an emission spectrum. Highly environmentally-compatible polymer dispersions, inorganic EL devices, light emitting devices, fluorescent tubes, and the like are also provided, which use the M-C—N—O based phosphors. |
| US08668842B2 |
Method for heat treating a carbon coated alkali metal oxyanion electrode material
A process for preparing an alkali metal oxyanion electrode material having a carbon coating deposited by a thermal treatment, said process comprising a thermal step under a humidified atmosphere of: (i) said alkali metal oxyanion electrode material having a carbon coating deposited by a thermal treatment; (ii) precursors of said alkali metal oxyanion electrode material and an organic precursor of carbon; or (iii) said alkali metal oxyanion electrode material and an organic precursor of carbon, wherein said thermal step is performed at a temperature in the range of about 300° C. to about 950° C. |
| US08668841B2 |
Bismuth-zinc-mercury amalgam, fluorescent lamps, and related methods
A pellet having a microstructure including a bismuth phase, a zinc solid solution phase, and a Zn3Hg phase is disclosed. A method of making a pellet including bismuth, zinc, and mercury is also disclosed. Moreover, a fluorescent lamp with a fill material including bismuth, zinc, and mercury is disclosed. Further, a method of dosing a fluorescent lamp with mercury is disclosed. |
| US08668836B2 |
Plasma processing device and method of monitoring plasma discharge state in plasma processing device
An object is to provide a plasma processing device capable of rightly monitoring existence of plasma discharge and also rightly monitoring existence of abnormal discharge. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of monitoring a state of plasma discharge in the plasma processing device.A discharge detection sensor 23, in which a dielectric member 21 and a probe electrode unit 22 are combined with each other, is attached to an opening portion 2a provided in a lid portion 2 composing a vacuum chamber. A change in the electric potential induced in the probe electrode 22b according to a change in plasma discharge is received, electric potential change wave-forms of specific patterns are respectively detected by an N-type wave-form detecting portion 34 and V-type wave-form detecting 35, and a discharge state judgment including a judgment of whether the electric discharge exists or does not exist and whether the electric discharge is normal or abnormal is made according to a counted value of counting the number of times of appearance of these electric potential change wave forms for each type of wave-form by a discharge ON wave-form counter 36, a discharge OFF wave-form counter 37, an abnormal discharge wave-form counter 38 and a leak discharge wave-form counter 39. |
| US08668835B1 |
Method of etching self-aligned vias and trenches in a multi-layer film stack
A multi-step etch process wherein elliptical via openings and trench openings are formed in a dielectric layer includes supporting a multi-layer film stack on a temperature controlled electrostatic chuck in a plasma etch reactor. The multi-layer film stack has a dielectric layer and a patterned metal hard mask layer above the dielectric layer. An etchant gas is supplied to the plasma etch reactor. The etchant gas is energized into a plasma state, and via openings in a photo resist are transferred into a planarization layer and then into elliptical portions of the trench openings in a patterned hard mask layer while maintaining the chuck at a temperature of about 30 to 50° C. The elliptical openings are extended into a lower layer of the hard mask and into an underlying dielectric layer while maintaining the chuck at a temperature of 20° C. or below. After stripping the planarization layer to expose the trench pattern in the hard mask, trench openings are formed in the dielectric layer while maintaining the chuck at a temperature of about 55° C. or higher. The process can thus provide enlarged via contact areas while etching trenches with pitches of 80 nm or less. |
| US08668828B2 |
Sanitary spiral wound filtration cartridge
Sanitary elements and cartridges of high performance are described which utilize a thin surrounding tubular shell with an exterior textured surface. Through the use of an overwrap material of particular design and by wrapping an assemblage of sheets of semipermeable membrane material, permeate carrier material and feed spacer material using a high tension, a spirally wound crossflow filtration element is constructed which has a substantially cylindrical outer surface of closely controlled OD that smoothly fits within such shell and which resists telescoping as a result of its radial compression. |
| US08668826B2 |
Container, and device and method for producing a disinfecting solution
A container (14) with a content (8) has at least one hypochlorite compound, in particular a calcium hypochlorite compound, for generating an aqueous solution, and at least one inlet attachment (46) for attachment to a water supply line (48) and at least one outlet attachment (50) for attachment to an outlet line (52, 92) for a liquid composed of the incoming water and of the content (8), wherein the content (8) is located in accordance with the flow between the inlet attachment (46) and the outlet attachment (50), and the container (14) is designed as a transportable exchange unit that is sealed off from the outside in the unattached state. |
| US08668824B2 |
Rapid cycle reforming process
This invention relates to process for producing a reformate or gasoline product. The process involves a rapid cycle of reacting hydrocarbon feedstock to form the product and then regenerating the catalyst used in the reaction. The process can be carried out at relatively high liquid hourly space velocities and preferably at relatively low hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratios to produce a reformed product having relatively high liquid yield and hydrogen content. |
| US08668822B2 |
Method for operating an ISFET sensor
A method for operating an ion-sensitive sensor with a measurement circuit which includes an ion-sensitive electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor structure (EIS); wherein the measurement circuit is embodied to issue an output signal which is dependent on ion concentration, especially a pH value, of a measured liquid; and wherein the method comprises the steps of: introducing the ion-sensitive electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor structure into a measured liquid; accelerating charging processes in the region of an insulator layer of the ion-sensitive electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor structure by operating the sensor over a predetermined time span at least a first working point; and dynamically adapting the working point to set a second working point, and registering and processing the output signal of the measurement circuit at the second working point. |
| US08668819B2 |
Underfill recognition system for a biosensor
A biosensor with an underfill recognition system assesses whether to analyze a sample for one or more analytes in response to the volume of the sample. The underfill recognition system applies polling and test excitation signals to the sample. The polling signals generate one or more polling output signals, which maybe used to detect when a sample is present and to determine whether the sample has sufficient volume for analysis. The test excitation signal generates one or more test output signals, which may be used to determine one or more analyte concentrations in the sample. |
| US08668818B2 |
Method for mass transfer of micro-patterns onto medical devices
This invention is directed to a new method of mass-transfer/fabrication of micro-sized features/structures onto the inner diameter (ID) surface of a stent. This new approach is provided by technique of through mask electrical micro-machining. One embodiment discloses an application of electrical micro-machining to the ID of a stent using a customized electrode configured specifically for machining micro-sized features/structures. |
| US08668814B2 |
Electrolytic cell and method of use thereof
In one embodiment of the present invention an electrolytic cell is provided comprising a containment vessel; a first electrode; a second electrode; a source of electrical current in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode; an electrolyte in fluid communication with the first electrode and the second electrode; a gas, wherein the gas is formed during electrolysis at or near the first electrode; and a separator; wherein the separator includes an inclined surface to direct flow of the electrolyte and the gas due to a difference between density of the electrolyte and the combined density of the electrolyte and the gas such that the gas substantially flows in a direction distal to the second electrode. |
| US08668810B1 |
Device and methods for processing carbon based materials
A process for the pyrolysis of waste material and/or organic material in a pyrolysis reactor is provided. According to the process, the material is placed in the reactor and heated with an induction heater, optionally in the presence of one or more soft magnets. The products of the pyrolysis reaction, such as gases and liquids may be collected in a storage vessel attached to the reactor. A pyrolysis reactor for the pyrolysis of waste and/or organic material is also provided. |
| US08668807B2 |
Ionic liquid systems for the processing of biomass, their components and/or derivatives, and mixtures thereof
Disclosed herein are compositions and methods that involve ionic liquids and biomass. Multiphasic compositions involving ionic liquids and a polymer and uses of such compositions for fractioning various components of biomass are disclosed. Methods of making and using compositions comprising an ionic liquid, biomass, and a catalyst are also disclosed. |
| US08668802B2 |
Method and device for electromagnetic welding of moulded parts
A method for electromagnetic welding of molded parts wherein a mold and at least two molded parts for coupling are placed in the mold, wherein at least a contact surface between the molded parts comprises a thermally activiated coupling means and an induction-senstive component. The coupling means is activated by heating the induction-senstive component by means of an inductor. The inductor comprises an electrical conductor which, under alternating voltage, generates an electromagnetic field which is substantially cylindrical in at least a direction of welding. The molded parts are pressed together in the configuration defined by the mold, wherein the molded parts are coupled by the thermally activated coupling means. Also disclosed is an assembly of molded parts, an inductor, an assembly of the inductor with an alternating current generator, and a device for electromagnetic welding. |
| US08668801B2 |
Method of producing a laminated optical film
A method for producing a laminated optical film that allows three-dimensional images to be reproduced, which is preferably used in a large image display apparatus. One embodiment of the method includes laminating a polarizing plate and a λ/4 plate and forming a λ/2 layer partially on the λ/4 plate. The polarizing plate and the λ/4 plate are laminated such that an angle between an absorption axis of a polarizer of the polarizing plate and a slow axis of the λ/4 plate is substantially 45°, and the λ/2 layer is formed such that an angle between the absorption axis of the polarizer and a slow axis of the λ/2 layer is substantially 45°. |
| US08668797B2 |
Method of assembly of thermoplastic fencing
A method of assembly of fencing made of thermoplastic materials which can be easily assembled utilizing ultrasonic welding and which can include a unique configuration for the ultrasonic welding surfaces which prevents the flow of melted thermoplastic materials outwardly onto the decorative outer surfaces of the various fencing parts. Any excess thermoplastic material is designed to pass inwardly toward the longitudinally extending bore defined in the various fencing construction parts. This concept is particularly useful for attaching capping fence members which are injection molded onto structural fence members which are extruded. |
| US08668796B2 |
Draping device for textile semi-finished products
A draping device for draping a two-dimensional textile semi-finished product includes a first rotationally symmetrical body having a first axis of rotation and a peripheral surface which varies along the axis of rotation. A first drive is configured to rotate the first body about the first axis of rotation so as to deform, via the first body, the semi-finished product. |
| US08668795B2 |
Method of pre-priming a membrane
A method of pre-priming a membrane includes folding the membrane along a longitudinal axis to create a folded membrane. The folded membrane includes a lower layer, an upper layer, and an exposed portion of the lower layer that is uncovered by the upper layer. A primer is applied over the exposed portion and a portion of the upper layer adjacent thereto simultaneously. |
| US08668791B2 |
Ascorbic acid, terephthalate and nitromethane stabilizers for fluoroolefins
The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising at least one fluoroolefin and an effective amount of a stabilizer comprising at least one ascorbic acid, terephthalate, or nitromethane, or mixtures thereof. The stabilized compositions may be useful in cooling apparatus, such as refrigeration, air-conditioning, chillers and heat pumps, as well as in applications as foam blowing agents, solvents, aerosol propellants, fire extinguishants, and sterilants. |
| US08668790B2 |
Heat treatment method and components treated according to the method
Disclosed herein is a method of treating a component comprising solution treating the component for a period of about 4 to about 10 hours at a temperature of about 1750 to about 1850° F.; cooling the component to a temperature of about 1490 to about 1520° F. at an average rate of 1° F./min to about 25° F./min; stabilizing the component at about 1450 to about 1520° F. for a period of from about 1 to about 10 hours; cooling the component to room temperature; precipitation aging the component by heating the component to a first precipitation aging temperature of about 1275 to about 1375° F. for about 3 to about 15 hours; cooling the component at an average rate of 50 to about 150° F./hour to a second precipitation aging temperature of about 1100 to about 1200° F. for a time period of about 2 to about 15 hours; and cooling the component. |
| US08668785B2 |
High purity ytterbium, sputtering target made thereof, thin film containing the same, and method of producing the same
Provided is a method of producing high purity ytterbium, wherein the high purity ytterbium is obtained by reducing crude ytterbium oxide in a vacuum with reducing metals composed of metals having a low vapor pressure, and selectively distilling ytterbium. Additionally provided are methods of achieving the high purification of ytterbium which has a high vapor pressure and is hard to refine in a molten state, and high purity ytterbium obtained thereby. Further provided is technology for efficiently and stably obtaining a sputtering target made of high purity material ytterbium, and a thin film for metal gates containing high purity material ytterbium. |
| US08668784B2 |
Steel for welded structure and producing method thereof
A steel for a welded structure includes the following composition: by mass %, C at a C content [C] of 0.015 to 0.045%; Si at a Si content [Si] of 0.05 to 0.20%; Mn at a Mn content [Mn] of 1.5 to 2.0%; Ni at a Ni content [Ni] of 0.10 to 1.50%; Ti at a Ti content [Ti] of 0.005 to 0.015%; O at an O content [O] of 0.0015 to 0.0035%; and N at a N content [N] of 0.002 to 0.006%, and a balance composed of Fe and unavoidable impurities. In the steel for a welded structure, the P content [P] is limited to 0.008% or less, the S content [S] is limited to 0.005% or less, the Al content [Al] is limited to 0.004% or less, the Nb content [Nb] is limited to 0.005% or less, the Cu content [Cu] is limited to 0.24% or less, the V content [V] is limited to 0.020% or less, and a steel composition parameter PCTOD is 0.065% or less, and a steel composition hardness parameter CeqH is 0.235% or less. |
| US08668782B2 |
Apparatus and method for cleaning air filters
An apparatus for cleaning air filters utilizes a pressurized fluid flow, preferably air, to rotate a set of air spraying jets inside a hollow interior of a filter in order to remove particles from the filter. To ensure proper positioning of the jets in relation to the filter the present invention uses a set of plates with slots and pins, wherein the pins secure the apparatus on one end of the filter. The set of plates also at least partially blocks the flow of air out of the ends to more efficiently direct the flow of air from the jets to the filter. The jets then may be moved reciprocated along the length of the filter for cleaning purposes. |
| US08668780B2 |
Contact lens carrier and methods of use thereof in the manufacture of ophthalmic lenses
Methods, devices, and systems for manufacturing ophthalmic lenses are described in which lens bodies are placed in cavities of lens carriers that are fluidly connected to reservoirs, flow ducts and sub-cavity base channels that provide enhanced washing and wet processing of the lenses. |
| US08668779B2 |
Method of simultaneously cleaning and disinfecting industrial water systems
A method of simultaneously cleaning and disinfecting an industrial water system is described and claimed. The method involves the addition to the water of the industrial water system of a Compound selected from the group consisting of the alkali salts of chlorite and chlorate and mixtures thereof; and an acid, followed by allowing the water in the industrial water system to circulate for several hours. The reaction of the alkali salts of chlorite and chlorate and acid produces chlorine dioxide in-situ in the water of the industrial water system. The chlorine dioxide kills microorganisms and the acid acts to remove deposits upon the water-contact surfaces of the equipment. This cleaning and disinfecting method works in a variety of industrial water systems including cooling water systems. |
| US08668778B2 |
Method of removing liquid from a barrier structure
The present invention provides methods of removing liquid from a barrier structure in the context of treating microelectronic workpieces with one or more treatment materials, including liquids, gases, fluidized solids, dispersions, combinations of these, and the like. |
| US08668770B2 |
Dental cement composition
Disclosed is a dental cement composition made up of ingredients comprising the nanoparticles of dicalcium and tricalcium silicate, bismuth oxide, gypsum, zeolite and strontium carbonate. The dental cement can also be used as bone cement, pulpotomy agent, pulp capping material, dental implant material, perforation repair material, and root-end filling material. |
| US08668768B2 |
System for preventing contaminants from reaching a gas purifier
The present invention is directed to the prevention of an exothermic reaction in the gas purifier of an ultra-high purity gas system. |
| US08668762B2 |
Method for manufacturing desulfurizing agent
The present invention relates to a desulfurizing agent of improved oxidation resistance, ignition resistance and productivity, and a method for manufacturing the desulfurizing agent. The desulfurizing agent may include a plurality of magnesium-aluminum alloy grains with grain boundaries, and a compound of one selected from consisting of magnesium and aluminum and one selected from consisting of alkaline metal and alkaline earth metal, the compound exists in the grain boundaries and is not inside but outside of the magnesium-aluminum alloy grains. |
| US08668754B2 |
Engine air intake device and construction machine incorporated with the same
Two air cleaners 20A, 20B are disposed on a horizontal plane in a state that air inlets 24, 24 are directed in an upward direction and an axial directions of the air cleaners 20A, 20B are aligned in parallel to each other. An air intake duct 21 for drawing in external air is disposed to overlap the air cleaners 20A, 20B in the upward direction. The air intake duct 21 is connected to the air inlets 24, 24 of the air cleaners 20A, 20B. A merging chamber S1 for supplying airs filtered through the air cleaners 20A, 20B to an engine is disposed along a direction orthogonal to the axial directions of the air cleaners 20A, 20B. The air cleaners 20A, 20B and a merging member 22 are attached to a common attachment member 26. |
| US08668751B2 |
System and method for concentrating a solid fuel in a slurry
A system includes a first cross-flow filter configured to remove at least a first portion of a liquid from a fuel slurry to increase a concentration of a solid fuel in the fuel slurry. The system also includes a gasifier configured to generate a syngas from the fuel slurry. |
| US08668746B2 |
Two-part hair colouring composition
Present invention relates to a two part coloring composition for hair with improved dyeing and conditioning properties of hair. The object of the present invention a two part hair dyeing composition consisting of Parts A and B which are mixed immediately before application onto hair wherein Part A is based on at least one hair dye and comprising further at least one amino acid surfactant and Part B is an aqueous composition and comprising at least one oxidizing agent and at least one cationic or cationizable surfactant, wherein parts A and/or B comprises additionally at least one oil. |
| US08668744B2 |
Suspension device for a limb prosthesis or orthosis
A vacuum-assisted suspension device for a lower limb prosthesis secures the prosthesis to a residual body portion. Sandwiched between the residual body portion and an impermeable socket is a flexible liner made of an impermeable material that is porous to allow the transport of air and fluid directly away from the residual body portion to the outer surface of the liner. A fabric distribution layer is located over the liner and between the liner and the socket to allow transmission of such extracted air and fluid laterally over the liner to an evacuation port in the socket. The evacuation port has an associated one-way valve. During use, loading of the socket compresses the flexible liner and air is expelled via the evacuation port. When the load is removed, a vacuum is created directly between the residual body portion and the socket, the vacuum being maintained by the one-way valve. |
| US08668738B2 |
Method and apparatus for ACL reconstruction using retrograde cutter
A method and apparatus for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using sockets in bone created by retrograde cutting. A retrograde rotary cutter, inserted onto an insertion post of a tibial guide, is inserted through an anteromedial portal and the rotary cutter placed on the anatomical origin of an ACL tibial insertion. A retrograde drill pin, guided by a drill guide, is drilled through the tibia until it contacts the rotary cutter. Once the cutter is disengaged from the guide and securely engaged in the retrograde drill pin, the retrograde drill pin is retracted for retrograde cutting of a socket of desired depth in the tibia. |
| US08668734B2 |
Intraocular lens delivery devices and methods of use
Intraocular lens delivery devices and methods of use. |
| US08668730B2 |
Vascular device with valve for approximating vessel wall
A vascular device comprising a plurality of vessel engaging members and a valve. The device is movable from a collapsed insertion position having a first diameter to a second expanded position having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The plurality of vessel engaging members extend outwardly from the device for securely engaging the internal wall of a vessel upon expansion of the device to the second expanded position, wherein the vessel engaging members pull the internal wall of the vessel radially inwardly upon movement of the device from the second expanded position toward a first expanded position having a third diameter greater than the first diameter and less than the second diameter. In the first expanded position the valve is movable between an open position to allow blood flow therethrough to a closed position to prevent blood flow. |
| US08668729B2 |
Stent for implantation in a blood vessel, especially in the region of the aortic arch
A stent for implantation in a blood vessel is disclosed, especially in the region of the aortic arch. The stent is comprising rings which are disposed successively in the stent's longitudinal direction and which are made up of meandering circumferential supports. The stent further comprises a prosthesis material which is fixed to the rings and which connects them, thereby forming a hollow cylindrical body with a jacket which is substantially closed on the circumference thereof. At least one connecting support is provided between the last ring and the penultimate ring at the proximal end of the stent and connects these two rings to one another. |
| US08668728B2 |
Dilatation and stent delivery system and related methods
The invention relates to a system for dilatation of a body passage and delivery of a stent into the body passage of a patient, and related methods of using such a system. The dilatation and stent delivery system may comprise a dilatation catheter having an expandable member on a distal end, and a stent delivery catheter configured to retain a stent and deliver the stent to a body passage. The stent delivery catheter defines a lumen sized to receive the dilatation catheter and permit movement of the dilatation catheter relative to the stent delivery catheter. |
| US08668723B2 |
Anterior cervical plate
An anterior cervical plate system is provided. The cervical plate includes a retention ring with a deflectable flange that is upwardly spaced from the top surface of the ring and configured to prevent an inserted bone fastener from backing out of the plate. The plate includes a locking pin having a camming surface and a blocking surface. When the camming surface is moved into position adjacent to the flange, the flange is free to flex out of the way of a bone screw being inserted into or removed from the plate. When the blocking surface is positioned adjacent to the flange, outward deflection of the flange is prevented to retain the bone screw inside the plate. The locking pin is rotated through a camming surface to bring a blocking surface against the flange deflecting the flange onto the head of the bone screw. |
| US08668720B2 |
Disc distraction device
A disc distraction device comprising a first pedicle screw having a mounting end and a head end, a second pedicle screw having a mounting end and a head end, a rigid interconnection member coupled proximate the head end of both the first and second pedicle screws, and a spring member coupled to the first and second pedicle screws closer to the mounting ends of the pedicle screws than the rigid interconnection member. |
| US08668718B2 |
Methods and apparatus for fixing sheet-like materials to a target tissue
A staple for attaching a sheet-like implant to tissue or bone may, include first and second arms, and first and second flukes. In some embodiments, the first arm has a proximal end and a distal end, and the second arm has a proximal end and a distal end. A bridge extends from the proximal end of the first arm to the proximal end of the second arm. The first fluke has a proximal end abutting the distal end of the first arm, and the first fluke extends distally from the first arm. The first fluke has a lateral extent larger than a lateral extent of the first arm and is mounted eccentrically thereto. The first fluke includes a proximal surface projecting at an outward angle in a proximal direction away from the distal end of the first arm to engage the tissue or bone when inserted therein. The second fluke has similar features. This arrangement causes the first and second flukes to rotate in response to a pullout force on the bridge. Methods for attaching a sheet-like implant to a target tissue are also disclosed. |
| US08668717B2 |
Over-the-wire exclusion device and system for delivery
A modification to allow delivery of a two port medical flow restrictor over a guidewire, and a means to mechanically collapse the new device. A thin walled, foil-like shell, is compacted for delivery. The invention includes the device, delivery assemblies, and methods of placing, and using, the device. A device with an aneurysm lobe and an artery lobe self-aligns its waist at the neck of an aneurysm as the device shell is pressure expanded. Mechanical force collapses both the aneurysm lobe and the artery lobe, captivating the neck of the aneurysm and securing the device. The device works for aneurysms at bifurcations and aneurysms near side-branch arteries. The device, unlike endovascular coiling, excludes the weak neck of the aneurysm from circulation, while leaving the aneurysm relatively empty. Unlike stent-based exclusion, the device does not block perforator arteries. This exclusion device can also limit flow through body lumens or orifices. |
| US08668716B2 |
Over-the-wire exclusion device and system for delivery
A modification to allow delivery of a two port medical flow restrictor over a guidewire, and a means to mechanically collapse the new device. A thin walled, foil-like shell, is compacted for delivery. The invention includes the device, delivery assemblies, and methods of placing, and using, the device. A device with an aneurysm lobe and an artery lobe self-aligns its waist at the neck of an aneurysm as the device shell is pressure expanded. Mechanical force collapses both the aneurysm lobe and the artery lobe, captivating the neck of the aneurysm and securing the device. The device works for aneurysms at bifurcations and aneurysms near side-branch arteries. The device, unlike endovascular coiling, excludes the weak neck of the aneurysm from circulation, while leaving the aneurysm relatively empty. Unlike stent-based exclusion, the device does not block perforator arteries. This exclusion device can also limit flow through body lumens or orifices. |
| US08668713B2 |
Vascular filter device
A vascular filter device (1) comprises a plurality of filter elements (6) which are movable from a capturing position to an open position upon elapse of a predetermined period of time. In the capturing position the filter elements (6) are configured to capture thrombus passing through the inferior vena cava. In the open position the filter elements (6) are configured to facilitate unrestricted blood flow. The filter elements (6) are biased towards the open position. The filter (1) comprises a holder member (10) to temporarily hold the filter elements (6) in the capturing position until elapse of the predetermined period of time. The holder member (10) comprises a biostable wire element (12) which extends through an opening (13) in each filter element (6), and a biodegradable/bioabsorbable stop element (11). Upon biodegrading/bioabsorbing of the stop element (11), the filter elements (6) are free to move from the capturing position to the open position. |
| US08668705B2 |
Latching anchor device
An anchor that secures to a connector as part of an anchor assembly is disclosed. The proximal anchor includes a pair of spaced apart prongs which join together at a slot inception. The prongs are shaped and sized of a configuration to define a catch or latching structure. The prongs are configured to capture and deform the suture between the protrusions and prevent the suture from disengaging from the slotted anchor device once engaged. |
| US08668699B2 |
Multi-function orthopedic instrument
Instrumentation is disclosed for use in orthopedic surgery that is capable of use as a compressor, a distractor, and a rod bender. Two pivoting arms have ends that can be used to compress implants, bones, or bone fragments together or to distract such items apart. In orthopedic surgery in which a rod, bar, plate, or other support is used, the instrument may be used to introduce bends into such supports so that the orthopedic structures (e.g. vertebrae) remain in a desired portion. Additional features are provided that permit verification of size of implantable items and packing of material in intervertebral spacers and similar devices. |
| US08668694B2 |
Bone fixation assemblies and methods of use
Intramedullary rod and blade assemblies and methods of implanting said assemblies are disclosed herein. The assemblies provided herein are useful in treating distal, proximal fractures, among other conditions, in large bones including, but not limited to: femurs, tibias, and humeri. Preferred assemblies can include an intramedullary rod having a proximal end and coupling means configured to securely attach to a blade, such that no portion of the rod or the coupling means extend into the fractured fragment beyond the blade. Further preferred assemblies include intramedullary rods that connect in the center of the internal blade, or substantially so, such that the rod and blade form a “T-shape,” or substantially so. |
| US08668691B2 |
Electrosurgical tissue sealer and cutter
A surgical instrument comprises an end effector including a pair of jaw members configured to move with respect to one another between an open configuration and a closed configuration for clamping tissue. At least one jaw member includes an elongate cam slot extending in a longitudinal direction over a substantial a length a tissue clamping surface of the at least one jaw member. A plurality of electrically isolated, and longitudinally spaced electrodes is supported by the tissue clamping surface and is configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue. A reciprocating member engages the elongate cam slot and is extendable to a sealing position with respect to each of the electrodes to define a predetermined gap distance between a particular electrode and an opposing tissue clamping surface. |
| US08668689B2 |
In-line vessel sealer and divider
An endoscopic forceps includes a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft including a pair of jaw members disposed at a distal end thereof. The forceps also includes a drive assembly disposed in the housing which moves the jaw members relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for manipulating tissue. A pair of handles is operatively connected to the drive assembly and the handles are movable relative to the housing to actuate the drive assembly to move the jaw members. Each of the jaw members is adapted to connect to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy for treating tissue. The forceps also includes a first switch disposed on the housing which is activatable to selectively deliver energy of a first electrical potential to at least one jaw member for treating tissue in a monopolar fashion. A second switch is disposed on the housing and is activatable to selectively deliver energy of a first electrical potential to one jaw member and selectively deliver energy of a second electrical potential to the other jaw member for treating tissue in a bipolar fashion. |
| US08668686B2 |
Sensing contact of ablation catheter using differential temperature measurements
Tissue ablation is carried out using insertion tube having at least one ablation electrode, a first temperature sensor disposed on the distal portion sufficiently proximate the ablation electrode to detect heat generated during the ablation procedure, a second temperature sensor disposed on the distal portion sufficiently distant from the ablation electrode to be unable to detect the heat, and electronic logic circuitry linked to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor and programmed to compute a temperature differential between respective temperatures sensed by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor when conveying the electromagnetic energy. Satisfactory contact status between the ablation electrode and the target tissue is indicated when the temperature differential exceeds a predetermined threshold. |
| US08668685B2 |
Electric operation system
When a treatment instrument is connected to the corresponding device (electric scalpel device or ultrasonic wave generation device), the device (electric scalpel device or ultrasonic wave generation device) transmits information related to the type, mode, and setting of the treatment instrument to a system controller. Accordingly, if a new treatment instrument is used, the system controller can perform display information related to the new treatment instrument and control the new treatment instrument. Even when the system controller is used in combination with newly-developed electric cautery knife and other treatment instruments, the system controller can obtain fixed information related to the respective medical instruments, thus increasing the operationality. Even if wrong setting is performed outside the ratings of the instruments in the system controller, the instruments can be prevented from damage such as dielectric breakdown on the basis of the obtained fixed information. |
| US08668681B2 |
Multi-chamber container
A multi-chamber container of two liquid mixing type, aiming for obtaining an increased reliability for preventing an administration from being practiced under a non separated condition of a weak seal.The medical bag 10 has an outer peripheral strong seal 14 and a weak seal 18 for separating the space inside the medical bag into two partitions 20 and 22. At the tip end of an outlet port 12, a flap 28 as a valve member is provided, which usually closes the outlet port 12 to the space inside the medical bag. The flap 28 is connected to the opposite surface of the medical bag, so that the flap 28 is displaced in cooperation with an expansion deformation of the medical bag as obtained when the weak seal 18 is opened, resulting in opening of the outlet port 12. The flap is formed with a small hole 44 for limiting a liquid flow amount to a small value. When an infusion operation being started under the non-opened state of the weak seal, the liquid flow amount to the outlet port is restricted to a small amount by the small hole 44, thereby notifying the non-opened state of the weak seal and warning that the weak seal should be opened. |
| US08668675B2 |
Wearable drug delivery device having spring drive and sliding actuation mechanism
A drug delivery device is provided. The drug delivery device includes a drug reservoir in fluid communication with a microneedle array. The drug delivery device has a sliding actuation mechanism that may be activated by a button or lever. Actuation of the drug delivery device inserts the microneedle array into the skin of a subject and causes a piston to compress the drug reservoir, thereby delivering the drug through the microneedle array to the subject. |
| US08668672B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for detecting occlusions in an ambulatory infusion pump
An improved pump, reservoir and reservoir piston are provided for controlled delivery of fluids. A motor is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw, which is adapted to advance a plunger slide in response to operation of the motor. The plunger slide is removably coupled to the piston. Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for automatically detecting an occlusion in a medication infusion pump are provided. The electrical current to an infusion pump may be measured. Based on measurements of one or more variables, such as force, the infusion pump detects whether there is an occlusion in the system. The methods of detecting occlusions may be dynamic. |
| US08668670B2 |
Automatic injection devices
An injection device comprises a syringe extendible against a spring bias from a retracted position in a housing to a projecting injecting position. A spring biased plunger has collapsible elbows which, when the plunger is released, initially engage the end of the syringe to drive it to the projecting position, whereupon arresting of the syringe movement causes the elbows to collapse inside the syringe to allow the plunger to engage and drive the bung. |
| US08668663B2 |
Device for the repeated piercing of a skin with a hand-held device, a needle module and a method for assembling the hand-held device
The invention relates to a device for the repeated piercing of a skin, with a hand-held device (1), which has a drive module (2) with a drive unit (4) that is configured for the purpose of producing a driving force, and a needle module (3) in which a piercing apparatus (6) is moveably located in the longitudinal direction of the needle module (3) and which is detachably coupled to the drive module (2) in such a way that the driving force is conducted into the piercing apparatus (6), wherein the needle module (3) has identification means (14) which can be evaluated with an evaluation apparatus (13) allocated to the identification means (14) and enclosed by the drive module (2). Furthermore, the invention relates to a needle module as well as a method for assembling the hand-held device. |
| US08668662B2 |
Anti-obesity devices
Method and apparatus for limiting absorption of food products in specific parts of the digestive system is presented. A gastrointestinal implant device is anchored in the pyloric portion of the gastrointestinal system and extends beyond the ligament of Treitz. All food exiting the stomach is funneled through the device. The gastrointestinal device includes an anchor for anchoring the device in the pyloric portion and a flexible sleeve that extents into the duodenum. The anchor is collapsible for endoscopic delivery and removal. |
| US08668661B2 |
Knee brace
A knee brace, for use by athletes or others requiring protection and support of the knee, that includes an elastic base that covers the knee and adjacent portions of the leg of a person, a mesh support layer covering an upper portion of the base and extending below the knee when the brace is worn, and a below-knee support panel made of an inelastic sheet material. The mesh support layer can have a symmetric construction, and can have overlapping ears, although this is not required. Alternative embodiments of a knee brace according to the present invention can include a mesh support layer that covers the patella tendon, or a mesh support layer that encircles the kneecap. |
| US08668659B2 |
Finger motion assisting apparatus
It is an object of the present invention to provide a finger motion assisting apparatus that can be attached to a user without precise positioning or aligning the mechanism parts and substantially without size-fitting operation caused by physical size difference. According to the finger motion assisting apparatus of the present invention, the wire guide group 30 includes the first wire guide group 31 located on the palm side of the phalanxes 10, and the second wire guide group 32 located on the back side of the phalanxes 10, the wire is fixed to the finger holding member 20 located on the distal phalanx, the wire 40 includes the first wire 41 inserted through the first wire guide group 31, and the second wire 42 inserted through the second wire guide group 32, and the driving unit 53, 54 loosens the second wire 42 when the first wire 41 is pulled, and loosens the first wire 41 when the second wire 42 is pulled. |
| US08668658B2 |
Derating method for therapeutic applications of high intensity focused ultrasound
Methods of derating a nonlinear ultrasound field and associated systems are disclosed herein. A method of derating a nonlinear ultrasound field in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology can include, for example, calibrating an ultrasound source to a first source voltage (Vw) and generating a nonlinear acoustic wave from the ultrasound source into water. The method can further include measuring a focal waveform of the nonlinear acoustic wave and determining a second source voltage (Vt) of the ultrasound source that generates the same focal waveform in tissue. |
| US08668655B2 |
Device for collecting a tissue sample from an animal
The invention relates to a device for collecting a tissue sample from an animal, comprising: a collection means having at least one cutting element (21) for cutting a tissue sample from the animal, and a means for storing said sample. According to the invention, the collection means also includes a push element (23) which can move in relation to the cutting element (21) in order to push the sample into the storage means after the sample has been cut with said cutting element (21). |
| US08668652B2 |
Airway bypass site selection and treatment planning
This invention relates to systems and methods for site selection and placement of extra-anatomic passages altering gaseous flow in a diseased lung. |
| US08668648B2 |
Contrast agent destruction effectiveness determination for medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging
The effectiveness of contrast agent destruction is determined. Locations of ineffectively destroyed contrast agents are identified. The response from undestroyed contrast agents may be distinguished from response from tissue due to saturation or from rapid perfusion. The locations may be highlighted on resulting images, indicating to the user locations not associated with perfusion. The user may make a diagnosis on perfusion rather than a lack of destruction of contrast agents. |
| US08668647B2 |
Bandpass sampling for elastography
The characterization of tissue viscoelastic properties requires the measurement of tissue displacements over a region of interest at frequencies that exceed significantly the frame rates of conventional medical imaging devices. The present invention involves using bandpass sampling to track high-frequency tissue displacements. With this approach, high frequency signals limited to a frequency bandwidth can be sampled and reconstructed without aliasing at a sampling frequency that is lower than the Nyquist rate. With bandpass sampling, it is feasible to use conventional beam-forming on diagnostic ultrasound machines to perform high frequency dynamic elastography. The method is simple to implement as it does not require beam interleaving, additional hardware or synchronization and can be applied to magnetic resonance elastography. |
| US08668644B2 |
Method of predicting acute cardiopulmonary events and survivability of a patient
A method of producing an artificial neural network capable of predicting the survivability of a patient, including: storing in an electronic database patient health data comprising a plurality of sets of data, each set having at least one of a first parameter relating to heart rate variability data and a second parameter relating to vital sign data, each set further having a third parameter relating to patient survivability; providing a network of nodes interconnected to form an artificial neural network, the nodes comprising a plurality of artificial neurons, each artificial neuron having at least one input with an associated weight; and training the artificial neural network using the patient health data such that the associated weight of the at least one input of each artificial neuron is adjusted in response to respective first, second and third parameters of different sets of data from the patient health data. |
| US08668643B2 |
Patient-worn medical monitoring device
One embodiment of a medical monitor includes a lanyard and an electronic package supported in the manner of a pendant. Another embodiment of a medical monitor attaches adhesively to a patient. Both embodiments include a reusable portion housing electronic components for processing measurements of the patient's physiological condition, and a disposable portion including a battery. The physiological measurements may be transmitted to a remote location along with a signal identifying the patient. |
| US08668640B2 |
Methods and apparatus for imaging using a light guide bundle and a spatial light modulator
Endoscopes and other viewing devices that control the light that contacts a sample and/or that is detected emanating from a sample. The viewing devices are particularly well suited for in vivo imaging, although other uses are also included. The viewing devices, and methods related thereto, comprise a spatial light modulator in the illumination and/or detection light path so that light transmitted to the target via a bundle of light guides or optical system is transmitted substantially only into the cores of the light guide bundle and not into the cladding surrounding the light guides, filler between the light guides in the bundle, or undesired light guides. Also, methods and apparatus for mapping the pixels of the spatial light modulator to the cores of the light guides in the bundle (preferably at least 3 pixels (e.g., at least 3 mirrors for a digital micromirror device) for each core), as well as for mapping the light guides of one light guide bundle to another. |
| US08668639B2 |
Image obtainment method and apparatus
In an image-obtainment-apparatus that obtains an image of an observation-region by imaging, by an imaging-device, light output from the observation-region illuminated with illumination-light, when the light-amount of the illumination-light illuminated the observation-region is less than or equal to first-threshold-value, the electronic-shutter-speed is controlled at first-constant-speed, and the light-amount of the illumination-light is controlled based on the light-amount of the illumination-light illuminated the observation-region. When the light-amount of the illumination-light illuminated the observation-region is greater than first-threshold-value and less than or equal to second-threshold-value, the electronic-shutter-speed is controlled at a speed based on the light-amount of the illumination-light illuminated the observation-region, and the light-amount of the illumination-light is controlled at a predetermined constant light-amount. When the light-amount of the illumination-light illuminated the observation-region is greater than second-threshold-value, the electronic-shutter-speed is controlled at second-constant-speed, and the light-amount of the illumination-light is controlled based on the light-amount of the illumination-light illuminated the observation-region. |
| US08668638B2 |
Method and system for automatically maintaining an operator selected roll orientation at a distal tip of a robotic endoscope
In a robotic endoscope system, the orientation of a captured camera view at a distal tip of a robotic endoscope and displayed on a screen viewable by an operator of the endoscope is automatically maintained at a roll orientation associated with a setpoint so as not to disorient the operator as the endoscope is moved, flexed and its tip turned in different orientations. A processor generates a current commanded state of the tip from operator input and modifies it to maintain the setpoint roll orientation. To generate the modified current commanded state, the current commanded roll position and velocity are constrained to be a modified current commanded roll position and velocity that have been modified according to a roll angular adjustment indicated by a prior process period commanded state of the tip and the setpoint. The processor then commands the robotic endoscope to be driven to the modified commanded state. |
| US08668636B2 |
Electronic endoscope system, processor for electronic endoscope, and method of displaying vascular information
Illumination light projected into a body cavity includes first to third narrowband rays of different wavelength ranges, at least one of these narrowband rays has a central wavelength of not more than 450 nm. Under these narrowband rays, first to third narrowband image signals are respectively obtained through an endoscope. Based on the first to third narrowband image signals, vascular areas containing blood vessels are determined, and a first luminance ratio between the first and third narrowband signals and a second luminance ratio between the second and third narrowband signals are calculated at every pixel of the vascular areas. From the calculated first and second luminance ratios, information about both the depth and oxygen saturation of the blood vessels is acquired with reference to correlation data that correlates the first and second luminance ratios to the vessel depth and the oxygen saturation. |
| US08668633B2 |
Waist and hip developer
A waist and hip developer includes a track curving smoothly upwardly toward two distal ends thereof and having two stop members respectively located at two distal ends thereof, foot members affixed to the track for supporting the track on the floor steadily, a slide slidably coupled to the track with rollers thereof and movable back and forth along the track between the stop members, a seat rotatably supported on the slide with a ball bearing, two grips respectively affixed to the two distal ends of the track, and a counter for counting of the number of reciprocating cycles of the slide moving by the user sitting on the seat. |
| US08668628B2 |
Electric treadmill with a folding mechanism by use of two swivel pieces
An electric treadmill with a folding mechanism by use of two swivel pieces includes a handrail frame mounted at both sides of the front end of the base frame. A base frame swivel piece is pivotally positioned at both sides near the front part of the bottom of the base frame, respectively. A handrail frame swivel piece is pivotally disposed near the bottom of the handrail frames, respectively. A pull rod is pivotally interposed between the swivel pieces. A movable support with ground-touching rollers is pivotally coupled to a cross shaft of the base frame swivel pieces. Moreover, the movable support is constantly biased by a telescopic supporting element. In this way, an action bar of the telescopic supporting element pushes the movable support forward when the base frame is folded upwards. Meanwhile, the ground-touching rollers are constantly in contact with the ground. Accordingly, a stable folded-up position is achieved. |
| US08668627B2 |
Free terrain elliptical exercise apparatus
The present invention relates to a standup exercise apparatus that simulates walking and jogging with arm exercise. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise machine having separately supported pedals for the feet and arm exercise coordinated with the motion of the feet where the pedal stride length is determined by the movements of an operator. Crank arms are positioned on the framework rearward the operator. Easy starting occurs in the default mode. |
| US08668626B1 |
Wireless pressure sensing rock climbing handhold and dynamic method of customized routing
A handhold for rock climbing for attachment to a constructed wall with a screw, for wireless communication with a remote computer, comprises: a) a body having a rear generally flat side portion and an integrated peripheral side portions wherein an upper peripheral portion is adapted to be grasped, said body having an interior cavity; b) an elongate cylindrical hole extending through the body sized to closely receive the screw for attachment to the constructed wall; c) a circuit, generally positioned within the interior cavity, containing a microprocessor, a pressure sensor to detect force on the handhold created by a user, a light emission device, a wireless transmission antenna; and d) a power source. In conjunction with the remote computer the circuit can be activated, the light emission device can be lit, and information generated in the handhold can be restored for recall at a later time. |
| US08668625B1 |
Cruise control using propulsion and retarding capabilities of machine
A method and system for managing cruise control in a machine provide for maintaining a speed of the machine at a target speed in the absence of an acceleration or deceleration command from an operator of the machine. When a deceleration command is received from the operator of the machine the machine is slowed below the target speed while the deceleration command is received and is returned to the target speed when the deceleration command is no longer received. |
| US08668623B2 |
Engine braking primary clutch for CVT systems
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) system including a primary clutch assembly with an engine braking assembly is provided. The primary clutch assembly includes first and second sheave assemblies, a cylindrical sleeve coupler and an engine braking assembly. The first sheave portion has a centrally extending post. The cylindrical sleeve coupler is rotationally mounted on a portion of the post. The sleeve coupler has an engaging surface that is configured to engage an inner face of a drive belt. The second sheave portion has a central passage that is rotationally mounted on the sleeve coupler. The engine braking assembly is operatively coupled to the second sheave portion and the sleeve coupler to axially move the second sheave portion toward the first sheave portion to engage first and second side faces of the drive belt when the sleeve coupler attempts to overrun the post of the first sheave portion in a rotational direction provided by a rotational output of an engine operatively coupled to the primary clutch. |
| US08668620B2 |
Caulked retaining member, method for retaining member by caulking, structure of caulked retaining member, and caulking apparatus
During a caulking process, a pressure is applied to a pressure receiving shoulder portion in the same direction as a direction of a clamping force generated by a caulking portion. The clamping force for holding an outer race can thereby be increased. Also, a pressure receiving surface of the pressure receiving shoulder portion is set higher than an end face. Thus, no pressure resulting from plastic deformation in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the clamping force of the caulking portion is generated. In addition, a groove is formed between the pressure receiving shoulder portion and an end serving as the caulking portion. |
| US08668617B2 |
Variable transmission
A transmission system having an input shaft for receiving/imparting rotation into the transmission system and an output shaft for delivering rotation from the transmission system, a flywheel component which has a ring gear portion and planet gear portion, wherein rotation of the input shaft causes rotation of the flywheel component, a first transmission shaft and a first transmission component, wherein rotation and/or orbital motion of the flywheel component is affected by the rotation or non-rotation of the first transmission shaft and by the rotation or non-rotation of the first transmission component, a second transmission shaft, wherein the first transmission component rotates if the second transmission shaft rotates, a second transmission component which rotates if the second transmission shaft rotates, wherein rotation or non-rotation of the second transmission component and rotation or non-rotation of the first transmission shaft affect the overall/net output shaft rotation, at least one modulator shaft the rotation or non-rotation of which is linked with the rotation or non-rotation of one of the transmission shafts, wherein a continuously variable accelerating or retarding torque can be applied to the modulator to accelerate or retard the rotation of the transmission shaft with which the modulator is linked, whereby this continuously variable acceleration or retarding of the rotation of the transmission shaft enables continuous variation of the speed and/or direction of the output rotation relative to the input rotation. |
| US08668614B2 |
High torque traction drive
Disclosed is high torque traction drive. The high torque traction drive utilizes planet gears that engage the inner mesh of a ring gear. The planet gears are mounted in rollers that have inner traction surfaces that engage sloped ring traction surfaces on traction rings that are attached to the ring gear. The sloped traction interface causes the rollers to move inwardly when forced toward the traction rings. The inward force on the rollers creates a shaft traction interface between a shaft and outer traction surfaces on the roller, so that rotational mechanical energy is effectively transferred between the rollers, the shaft and the ring gear. High rotational speeds can be achieved with a high degree of torque. Speed reduction ratios of at least 10:1 or greater can be achieved. The high speed drive may include exhaust turbines, steam turbines, including a Tesla turbine or Schumacher turbine, compressors, combinations of turbines and compressors, high speed pumps, dentist drills, or other devices that operate with high rotational speed. |
| US08668610B1 |
Electro-hydraulic servo synchronizer for MW wind turbine generator system
An electro-hydraulic servo synchronizer for MW wind turbine generator system includes a 2K-H differential planetary drive mechanism and a direct drive volume control system. The 2K-H differential planetary drive mechanism comprises a planet carrier, a planet gear, a ring gear, a sun gear, and a control gear, the input end of the planet carrier is an input shaft I, the output end of the sun gear is an output shaft II, the central shaft of the control gear is a shaft III. The direct drive volume control system comprises a constant displacement motor, a two-way constant delivery pump and a servo motor, the servo motor is connected with the two-way constant delivery pump, the two-way constant delivery pump is connected with the constant displacement motor, and the constant displacement motor is connected with the shaft III, so as to drive the control gear. |
| US08668609B2 |
Inverted tooth chain sprocket with frequency modulated meshing
An inverted tooth chain drive system includes a sprocket supported for rotation about an axis of rotation and including a plurality of teeth defined relative to respective tooth centers. The tooth centers are spaced evenly in a circumferential arrangement about the axis of rotation, and each of the plurality of teeth includes an engaging flank. An inverted tooth chain is engaged with the sprocket and includes a plurality of rows of links each structured for inside flank engagement with the sprocket, with leading inside flanks of each row of links projecting outwardly relative to the trailing outside flanks of a preceding row of links. The leading inside flanks of each row are positioned to make initial meshing contact with the engaging flank of one of the sprocket teeth. At least some of the teeth are standard teeth and other ones of the teeth are flank-relieved teeth. The engaging flanks of the flank-relieved teeth are negatively offset relative to their respective tooth centers as compared to said engaging flanks of said standard teeth relative to their respective tooth centers. The root surfaces leading the flank-relieved teeth are raised relative to the root surfaces leading the standard teeth and are also inclined. |
| US08668607B2 |
Driving pulley of a continuously variable transmission
The driving pulley has a fully clutched mode of operation where a drivebelt and a driveshaft are coupled together in a torque transmitting engagement and also has an unclutched mode of operation where there is substantially no torque transmitting engagement between the drive belt and the driveshaft. The driving pulley comprises at least one transitional clutch spring that is in a first position when the driving pulley is in the unclutched mode of operation and that is in a second position when the driving pulley is in the fully clutched mode of operation. The at least one transitional clutch spring remains substantially in its second position regardless of the relative axial distance between the sheaves when the driving pulley is in the fully clutched mode of operation. A method of operating a driving pulley is also disclosed. The proposed concept provides a smoother engagement during the transition from the unclutched mode to the fully clutched mode. |
| US08668605B1 |
Arrow outsert
An arrow outsert preferably includes a first end and a second end. An arrow point bore is formed in the first end of the arrow outsert to receive a cylindrical portion of an arrow point. An arrow shaft bore is formed in the second end of the arrow outsert to receive an arrow shaft. An outer surface of the arrow outsert is preferably tapered starting at the second end. A female thread is formed through a middle of the arrow outsert to threadably engage a threaded stud of the arrow point. A plurality of axial slots are formed in an outer perimeter of the arrow outsert. The arrow outsert is secured to an end of an arrow shaft by applying glue, adhesive or the like, before insertion into the arrow shaft bore. The threaded stud of the arrow point is threaded into the female thread to complete assembly. |
| US08668601B1 |
Golf club head with a compression-molded, thin-walled aft body
A golf club head composed of a face component and an aft body composed of a long fiber material. The aft body is composed of a compression molded material. The compression molded aft-body is composed of two pieces which are bonded to a metal face component. |
| US08668590B2 |
Integrating social networking and wagering systems
A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include determining that an event occurs to a wagering game player account during a wagering game session, determining a player-owned social network account associated with the wagering game player account, connecting to the player-owned social network account, and presenting a notification of the event on the player-owned social network account. In some embodiments, the operations can also include providing social network rewards and wagering game awards for the event to the player-owned social network account, or to other social network accounts associated with the player-owned social network account. In some embodiments, the operations can also include determining social activity performed by the other social network accounts and presenting notifications of the social activity by the other social network accounts to the wagering game player account during the wagering game session. |
| US08668587B2 |
Method of determining quality of service for on-line gaming in a network
In a method and a device for determining the perceived quality of service for a wireless gaming service a perceived gaming quality is determined based on measurable game and transport parameters. |
| US08668586B2 |
Controlling and presenting online wagering games
A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include receiving login information to log in to an online gaming venue and determining a player account associated with the login information. The operations can also include presenting the online gaming venue on a personal computing device associated with the player account. The online gaming venue can include casino related data that indicates ambience of a gambling environment (e.g., a casino, a poker room, etc.), interactive objects to interact with the player account, and communication functions to share recorded activity and other personal information, between the player account and other player accounts within the online gaming venue. In some embodiments, the operations can also include determining indications of player emotions and presenting multi-media files in conjunction with player avatars to represent the indicated emotions within the online gaming venue. |