| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08780182B2 |
Imaging system and method using partial-coherence speckle interference tomography
A system for generating an image of contoured surface includes a light source that is configured to project an electromagnetic radiation beam onto the contoured surface, wherein the projected beam generates first radiation reflected from a first portion of the contoured surface to form a speckle pattern, and second radiation reflected from a second portion of the contoured surface which is substantially uniform in intensity. The reflected first and second reflected radiation is received by an optical detector, and may be processed. The processing is configured to (1) generate a plurality of images from the first and second reflected radiation, with each image being generated using different coherence length electromagnetic radiation from the light source, and (2) generate a 3-D image of the contoured surface from the plurality of images. Methods for generating a 3-D image of a contoured surface are also disclosed. |
| US08780177B2 |
Apparatus and method for camera parameter calibration
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for camera parameter calibration which is capable of easily and simply setting physical and optical characteristic parameters of a camera in order to acquire information on actual measurement of an image provided through the camera with high accuracy. The camera parameter calibration apparatus and method has an advantage of correct image analysis that it is capable of increasing accuracy of information of measurement through an image only with an intuitive interface manipulation, without taking a time-consuming and incorrect actual measurement procedure, by determining parameters of the space model corresponding to the image by displaying a 3D space model corresponding to a real space of the image on the image and changing and adjusting visual point parameters such that the 3D space model matches the display image, and regarding the determined parameters of the space model as camera parameters of the image. |
| US08780176B2 |
Vessel imaging system and method
A system and a method for acquiring an image of a particle flowing in a vessel, the system comprising a light source for generating an illuminating light, an imaging probe for laterally statically illuminating at least a portion of said vessel with the illuminating light, a detection unit for detecting emitted light from an illuminated portion of said particle, and a processor unit for reproducing an image of the illuminated portion of said particle from the emitted light. |
| US08780174B1 |
Three-dimensional vision system for displaying images taken from a moving vehicle
A three-dimensional vision system, device, and methods using the same are disclosed. The system or device includes an image device capable of capturing a plurality of sequential individual or scanned images of a field-of view, a buffer that stores the images for a predetermined time delay, first and second image stabilizers coupled to the buffer, and a display. The predetermined time delay signals the buffer to transmit an older image and a newer image, sequentially separated in time by the predetermined time of the predetermined time delay. The display is coupled to the first and second image stabilizers to present the images to a viewer in a format that enables the viewer to see a three-dimensional image. At least one of the first and second image stabilizers adjust the orientation of either the older image or the newer image to correspond to the orientation of the other image. |
| US08780173B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing fatigue resulting from viewing three-dimensional image display, and method and apparatus for generating data stream of low visual fatigue three-dimensional image
Provided is a method of reducing fatigue resulting from viewing a three-dimensional (3D) image display. The method includes: obtaining low visual fatigue parameter information on a frame section including at least one frame of a received 3D image; obtaining disparity vector information on each frame of the 3D image; and determining a disparity minimum limit value and a disparity maximum limit value with respect to the 3D image. |
| US08780171B2 |
Video signal processor and video signal processing method with markers for indicating correct component connection
Disclosed herein is a video signal processor including: a combining process section adapted to superimpose a first marker signal on a first video signal component at a specific position and superimpose a second marker signal on a second video signal component at roughly the same position as the specific position; and a control section adapted to control the condition of superimposition of the first and second marker signals so that an image appears to indicate that the first and second marker signals are combined correctly when the first and second video signal components are combined in a correct phase relationship, and so that an image appears to indicate that the first and second marker signals are combined incorrectly if the first and second video signal components are combined in an incorrect phase relationship. |
| US08780167B2 |
Systems and methods for virtual presence videoconferencing
Systems and methods are disclosed for virtual presence communication systems that provide both local and remote participants in a conference with a more realistic and engaging conferencing experience. A virtual presence communication system comprises a projection screen, an image-generating unit, at least one communication port, and a video camera, where each is configured to couple to a chair having a seat and a seatback portion. The virtual presence communication system may be integrated with the chair, which can be positioned proximate to a conference table, desk, podium, or other suitable location. The projection screen may be positioned in an angled relationship with a video screen or other image-generating device. The video screen may provide an image of the remote participant that is reflected by the projection screen. The chair also may include a video camera that is configured to generate a video feed that is supplied to the remote participant. The chair may be generally portable to allow the chair to moved (e.g., rolled) to different locations. |
| US08780166B2 |
Collaborative recording of a videoconference using a recording server
A videoconference may be initiated between a plurality of endpoints. At least one of the endpoints may be coupled to a recording server, which may be configured to record the videoconference. A configuration may be selected (e.g., automatically or manually) for performing the recording. The endpoint (e.g., acting as an MCU) may transmit information to endpoints and may transmit recording information to the recording server. The recording information may be different from the videoconference information. For example, it may be in a “streaming friendly” format, at a different bit rate, encoded differently, have different inputs, etc. The manner in which the videoconference is stored and/or recorded may be based on the selected configuration. Clients may be configured to receive and display the videoconference from the recording server and may be configured to change the provided layout to different layouts, e.g., based on user input. |
| US08780163B2 |
Platform for pseudo-anonymous video chat with intelligent matching of chat partners
A computer-implemented method and system of providing live video chats in a network are described. The method may include: providing a first interface for a user to generate a user profile; generating a list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners according to a matching algorithm that involves the information of the user profile; providing a second interface for the user to select a chat partner on the list of pseudo-anonymous chat partners, and initiate a video call to the chat partner; establishing a video chat session between said user and said chat partner; providing a third interface for the user and the chat partner to add to and/or modify their respective profiles while the video chat session is in progress; and providing a fourth interface for the user and said chat partner to rate each other during the video chat session and/or after the video chat session. |
| US08780162B2 |
Method and system for locating an individual
A method of locating a first user comprises receiving at a server, via a communication network, video data from a sensor at a predetermined location that is remote from the server. Using a process in execution on a processor of the server, at least one of video analytics, image analytics and audio analytics is performed for determining a presence of the first user at the predetermined location. When a result of the video analytics is indicative of the first user being present at the predetermined location, an indication that the first user is at the predetermined location is retrievably stored within a memory element of the server. |
| US08780161B2 |
System and method for modifying images
The present invention describes a method of modifying an image in a video that includes the step of capturing a visible light image of an area, where the visible light image captured at a first frame rate. The method in addition includes the step of capturing a corresponding infrared light image of an area, the infrared light image being captured when the area is illuminated with an infrared light source, the infrared light image captured at the substantially the same frame rate as the visible light image. Based on the infrared light image, at least a subset of the human perceptible characteristics of the captured visible light image are modified. |
| US08780160B2 |
Portable terminal with projector and method for displaying data thereon
A portable terminal equipped with a projector and a method for displaying data using the portable terminal provides capabilities for both conferencing and video presentations. When a projection function is selected in the portable terminal while the portable terminal is making a video call with other portable terminal, presentation data that will be output via the projector is transmitted to another portable terminal. The presentation data and image data transmitted from the other portable terminal is output via the projector of the portable terminal. |
| US08780158B2 |
Laser scan unit housing for an imaging device
A housing for the scan unit printhead of an imaging device. The housing is substantially bowl shaped having a plurality of mounting surfaces extending inwardly toward a central region of the housing. The housing is constructed from a metal composition. The scan unit includes a plurality of light sources and an optical assembly operatively coupled thereto. The housing mounting surfaces support components of the optical assembly using an adhesive, without additional mounting hardware. |
| US08780153B2 |
Thermal head
A thermal head wherein abrasion of an insulating protection film of a heating resistor formed on a partial glaze layer can be suppressed. A heating resistor is provided on the partial glaze layer provided on a ceramic substrate in the longitudinal direction, and the entire surface including the heating resistor is covered by the insulating protection film. A level difference is formed between the insulating protection film over the heating resistor and a flat portion of the insulating protection film over the area outside of the partial glaze layer. The level difference is set so that the insulating protection film on the heating resistor defines a higher portion and a platen roller can press thermal paper on the insulating protection film over the heating resistor and on the flat insulating protection film outside of the partial glaze layer. Thereby, the pressing force of the platen roller can be dispersed. |
| US08780152B2 |
Method and apparatus for thermal expansion based print head alignment
Automated print head alignment uses thermal expansion. By leveraging thermal expansion to position print heads within the carriage, the tedious manual adjustment process is eliminated. The need for costly precision references within the printer and on the print head is also reduced. |
| US08780150B2 |
Method of making a laboratory slide
A method of marking a laboratory slide (3) includes providing a tape (9) having dye (10) between a thermal print head (4) and a marking surface (2) of a laboratory slide (3). The dye (10) is on the side of the tape (9) facing the marking surface (2) and the tape (9) is pinched between the thermal print head (4) and the marking surface (2). The thermal print head (4) is heated and applied to the tape (9) so that dye (10) from the tape (9) is vaporised by the thermal print head (4) and the vaporised dye ingresses into the marking surface (2) to mark the marking surface. In a modification, an inkjet printer prints a dye mark on the tape and a heated pad is pressed against the tape to apply the dye mark to the marking surface. |
| US08780146B2 |
Driving member and driving member array module
An exemplary driving member and an exemplary array module formed by a plurality of the driving members are disclosed in the invention. The driving member includes a first suspending beam module, a second suspending beam module and a conductive suspending beam module. When a voltage is provided between the first suspending beam module and the second suspending beam module, or the first suspending beam module and the second suspending beam module are provided with two homopolar voltages, when the electric field force is larger than the deforming force threshold of the first suspending beam, the first suspending beam moves to contact with the conductive suspending beam module, so that the first suspending beam has a voltage same with the conductive suspending beam module. When the electric field force is smaller than the deforming force threshold of the first suspending beam, the first suspending beam module rebounds to an original state. |
| US08780145B2 |
Image display apparatus, picture signal processing method, and program
An image display apparatus includes: a panel (16a) that includes a plurality of picture elements that change transmittance of light according to picture levels; a detection unit (12) that detects, in one-image portions of the panel (16a), picture levels for each of the plurality of picture elements from picture signals that indicate the picture levels of each picture element; and a processor (18) that, based on the picture levels of one-image portions that were detected by the detection unit (12), adjusts the transmittance of light of the plurality of picture elements such that the image realized by the picture signal is brighter when a value that corresponds to brightness is greater than a predetermined threshold value. |
| US08780144B2 |
Image processing apparatus, display system, electronic apparatus, and method of processing image
An image processing apparatus that performs display control of an image displayed on a display unit, includes a first control circuit for controlling image data of a frame in question or a display timing control signal corresponding to the image data so as to display each pixel forming the image with different brightness at given intervals, and a second control circuit for controlling the image data or the display timing control signal by different control from that by the first control circuit so as to display each pixel forming the image with different brightness at given intervals, wherein the first control circuit and the second control circuit control image data of an identical frame or a display timing control signal corresponding to the image data. |
| US08780139B2 |
Resolution monitoring when using visual manipulation tools
Resolution monitoring when using visual manipulation tools is described, including determining a minimum resolution for a visual manipulation tool, monitoring a usage of the visual manipulation tool, and interrupting the usage of the visual manipulation tool if the visual manipulation tool is operating below the minimum resolution. |
| US08780138B2 |
Information presentation based on display screen orientation
A handheld devise presents information on a display screen in alternate formats. The device determines its orientation relative to a device user and selects a format based on that orientation. The displayed information may also be scrolled or zoomed based on a detected motion of the device. |
| US08780129B2 |
Method and apparatus for hardware rotation
A method and apparatus for hardware rotation is described. In one embodiment, the invention is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a direct access address translation component. The apparatus also includes a frame buffer coupled to the direct access address translation component. The apparatus further includes a 2D coordinate translation component. The apparatus also includes a 2D engine coupled to the 2D coordinate translation component and to the frame buffer. The apparatus further includes a 3D engine. The apparatus also include a 3D coordinate translation component coupled to the 3D engine and the frame buffer. As will be appreciated, further embodiments of the invention are within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, and the specific details of a specific embodiment as described need not be present in all embodiments of the invention. |
| US08780125B2 |
Intelligent display
In one embodiment, a display device comprises a graphics interface, an image processing system, an input device coupled to the image processing system to receive a screen capture signal and transmit the screen capture signal to the image processing system, and a storage subsystem coupled to the image processing system to store, in response to the screen capture signal, screen capture data generated by the image processing system. |
| US08780120B2 |
GPU self throttling
Techniques for GPU self throttling are described. In one or more embodiments, timing information for GPU frame processing is obtained using a timeline for the GPU. This may occur by inserting callbacks into the GPU processing timeline. An elapsed time for unpredictable work that is inserted into the GPU workload is determined based on the obtained timing information. A decision is then made regarding whether to “throttle” designated optional/non-critical portions of the work for a frame based on the amount of elapsed time. In one approach the elapsed time is compared to a configurable timing threshold. If the elapsed time exceeds the threshold, work is throttled by performing light or no processing for one or more optional portions of a frame. If the elapsed time is less than the threshold, heavy processing (e.g., “normal” work) is performed for the frame. |
| US08780115B1 |
Investment management marketing tool
An apparatus for marketing investment services comprising a display screen aligned along a vertical axis and a horizontal axis, a position detector, and a computer device. The computer device may receive at least one signal from the position detector indicating a position of a viewer relative to the display screen in the horizontal axis and a perpendicular distance of the viewer from the display screen; cause the display screen to display a user interface. The user interface may comprise an age scale aligned with the horizontal axis, an asset scale aligned with the vertical axis and a chart of assets versus age. Upon determining that the perpendicular distance of the viewer from the display screen is less than a predetermined value, the computer device modify the interface to display an element at a first position on the age scale corresponding to a position of the viewer relative to the display screen in the horizontal axis. |
| US08780113B1 |
Systems and methods for performing depth estimation using image data from multiple spectral channels
Systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention can perform parallax detection and correction in images captured using array cameras. Due to the different viewpoints of the cameras, parallax results in variations in the position of objects within the captured images of the scene. Methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention provide an accurate account of the pixel disparity due to parallax between the different cameras in the array, so that appropriate scene-dependent geometric shifts can be applied to the pixels of the captured images when performing super-resolution processing. In a number of embodiments, generating depth estimates considers the similarity of pixels in multiple spectral channels. In certain embodiments, generating depth estimates involves generating a confidence map indicating the reliability of depth estimates. |
| US08780108B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for simulating a material
Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for simulating a material. In particular, the disclosed apparatus, systems and methods involve modeling deformation characteristics of a material and generating a virtual representation of a physical interaction with the material based on the modeled deformation characteristics of the material and data representative of the physical interaction. |
| US08780106B2 |
Clinician review of an orthodontic treatment plan and appliance
A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient's teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient's teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions. |
| US08780100B2 |
Display device, particularly display device for motor vehicles, with a brightness sensor
A display is disclosed, such as for a vehicle. A brightness sensor receives light from a flexible fiber-optic cable. An adapter element is provided proximate, such as between, the light output point of the optical fiber and the brightness sensor. The adapter element may be an angled piece, and may be extruded onto the optical cable. |
| US08780099B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The OLED display includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; a thin film transistor and a driving driver on the first substrate; an organic light emitting element including a pixel electrode, an organic emission layer, and a common electrode; a pixel defining layer; a thermal conductive layer covering the driving driver; and a first sealant along an outer edge of the first substrate and the second substrate. |
| US08780097B2 |
Newton ring mura detection system
A system for detecting newton ring mura on a display includes sensing an image of the display with an image capture device and determining a border boundary of an illuminated portion of the display. The image is spatially filtered as defined by the border boundary using a filter that reduces sensor noise and a grid pattern of the display. The spatially filtered image is processed to determine if a region proximate a pixel location is a potential newton ring mura defect and characterizing the potential newton ring mura defects to remove at least one of the potential newton ring mura defects. |
| US08780095B2 |
Projector and control method
A projector includes: an interface section that has a plurality of connection terminals receiving image information from source devices, a projecting section that projects an image, a storage control section that stores identification information that denotes the source device, an instruction information input section accepting instruction information, a power-supply, a power-supply control section that controles the power-supply, a determination section, and a control information generation section that generates control information, wherein, in a case where the determination section determines that the instruction information is information of designating switching on the power-supply, the power-supply control section switches on the power-supply, the control information generation section generates switching on control information designating switching on the source device that is denoted with the identification information, and the interface section outputs the switching on control information to the source device that is denoted with the identification information. |
| US08780093B2 |
Method for transmitting image data through RSDS transmission interfaces
A method for transmitting image data in a display is provided. The method includes the steps of: sending first pixel data through a first bus to a source driver; sending second pixel data through a second bus to the source driver; reorganizing the first pixel data and the second pixel data in the source driver; and generating third pixel data according to the reorganization of the first pixel data and the second pixel data for channels in the source driver. A display is also disclosed herein. |
| US08780092B2 |
Method and device for driving a display device with line-wise dynamic addressing
The EMI spectrum of a display device is to comply with respective norms. Therefore, the clock for loading data into data drivers of a display panel is designed to be variable. Consequently, the electromagnetic radiation produced by the loading clock is broadened thereby reducing the peak amplitude. Thus, the limitations of radiation norms can be complied with. |
| US08780083B2 |
Coordinate input apparatus, control method thereof, and program
A plurality of sensors for receiving arrival light detect the change ranges of light amount distributions generated upon the pointing operation of a pointer on a coordinate input region. Coordinate values corresponding to the change ranges are calculated on the basis of the number of change ranges in the respective sensors and the number of pen-down signals obtained from the pointer. |
| US08780080B2 |
Input device, display device and portable terminal
According to one aspect of the present invention, an input device includes: a substrate; first detection electrodes; second detection electrodes; a first connection electrode; an insulator; and a second connection electrode. The first detection electrodes are provided on or above the substrate and arrayed along a first direction. The second detection electrodes are provided on or above the substrate and arrayed along a second direction. The first connection electrode is provided on or above the substrate and connecting adjacent first detection electrodes. The insulator is provided on or above the substrate so as to cover the first connection electrode. The second connection electrode is provided on or above the insulator so as to straddle over the insulator, and connecting adjacent second detection electrodes. The portion of the first detection electrodes covers a portion of the insulator. |
| US08780077B2 |
User interface for handwriting inputs
A method, medium, device, and user interface are provided for receiving a handwriting input and for presenting prediction candidates based on the handwriting input. A pen down event is detected in a writing panel of a user interface. The writing panel is expanded to overlie function keys and a candidate window of the user interface such that those features are made inaccessible for inadvertent selections thereof. Upon detection of a pen up event the writing panel is decreased in size to again reveal the features. Recognition candidates are identified based on the handwriting input. Prediction candidates are also identified based on a highest ranking recognition candidate and are presented in combination with the highest ranking recognition candidate. Prediction candidates are thereby identifiable with the recognition candidate with which they are associated and selection of a prediction candidate and recognition candidate may be performed in single selection input. |
| US08780075B2 |
Information processing apparatus, input control method of information processing apparatus, and program
Provided is an information processing apparatus including an input position acquisition unit, a depressing force acquisition unit and an input control unit. An input position acquisition unit obtains an input position detected with respect to an input operation. A depressing force acquisition unit obtains a depressing force detected with respect to the input operation. An input control unit fixes the input position as a position of an input candidate in response to a timing at which an increase amount of the depressing force has exceeded a first threshold value, at a stage prior to an input candidate determination operation of determining the input candidate as input information. |
| US08780069B2 |
Device, method, and graphical user interface for manipulating user interface objects
A computing device with a touch screen display simultaneously displays on the touch screen display a plurality of user interface objects and at least one destination object. The computing device detects a first input by a user on a destination object displayed on the touch screen display. While continuing to detect the first input by the user on the destination object, the computing device detects a second input by the user on a first user interface object displayed on the touch screen display. In response to detecting the second input by the user on the first user interface object, the computing device performs an action on the first user interface object. The action is associated with the destination object. |
| US08780066B2 |
Touch determination by tomographic reconstruction
A touch-sensitive apparatus comprises a panel configured to conduct signals from a plurality of peripheral incoupling points to a plurality of peripheral outcoupling points. Actual detection lines are defined between pairs of incoupling and outcoupling points to extend across a surface portion of the panel. The signals may be in the form of light, and objects touching the surface portion may affect the light via frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR). A signal generator is coupled to the incoupling points to generate the signals, and a signal detector is coupled to the outcoupling points to generate an output signal. A data processor operates on the output signal to enable identification of touching objects. The output signal is processed (40) to generate a set of data samples, which are indicative of detected energy for at least a subset of the actual detection lines. The set of data samples is processed (42) to generate a set of matched samples, which are indicative of estimated detected energy for fictitious detection lines that have a location on the surface portion that matches a standard geometry for tomographic reconstruction. The set of matched samples is processed (44, 46) by tomographic reconstruction to generate data indicative of a distribution of an energy-related parameter within at least part of the surface portion. |
| US08780065B2 |
Interface and synchronization method between touch controller and display driver for operation with touch integrated displays
Apparatuses and methods of synchronizing a display driver integrated circuit (DDI) and a touch screen controller (TSC) integrated circuit that are coupled to a display integrated touch panel, such as an in-cell panel, and allowing multi-phase transmit (TX) scanning of the in-cell touch panel. One apparatus includes a DDI configured to receive signals on a video interface from a host processor over a video interface and to drive electrodes of a touch panel. The DDI is configured to receive control signals from a TSC over a control interface to drive different transmit (TX) phase sequences of a TX signal in different sensing interval on the electrodes of the touch panel. |
| US08780055B2 |
Low power wakeup detection circuit and a portable electronic device having a low power wakeup detection circuit
The present disclosure provides a low power wakeup detection circuit and a portable electronic device having a low power wakeup detection circuit. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a portable electronic device, comprising: a housing; a controller received within the housing; a touch-sensitive display having a touch-sensitive overlay, the touch-sensitive display being mechanically constrained by the housing; at least one force sensing transducer located below the touch-sensitive display on an opposite side to the touch-sensitive overlay, the at least one force sensing transducer being connected to the controller and measuring forces applied to the touch-sensitive display; wherein the controller is configured for: initiating a sleep mode from a full power mode in response to a trigger; when in the sleep mode, reading force data measured by the at least one force sensing transducer at a reduced duty cycle relative to the full power mode, comparing the force data to a wakeup force threshold, and returning to the full power mode from the sleep mode when the force data is greater than the wakeup force threshold. |
| US08780054B2 |
Mobile terminal and control method thereof
A control method of a mobile terminal is disclosed. The control method of a mobile terminal includes: acquiring a pressure signal through a pressure sensing module for sensing a change in pressure applied to at least one part of the body in at least two degrees; and generating an event for changing a display state of a display unit through a control signal to be matched to the pressure signal. Emotional quality can be improved by changing a display state of a display unit in response to a change in pressure applied to the body. |
| US08780052B2 |
Input data processing program and information processing apparatus
The game apparatus executes a storage step of repeatedly acquiring input area data representing an input area 41 in accordance with a detection result from the input device, and storing the input area data in a memory. Next, the game apparatus executes: a virtual area determination step of determining a virtual area 42 so as to follow a change of the input area 41 represented by the input area data each time the input area data is stored in the memory; and a first process execution step of executing a first process, such as a process of moving a cursor, in accordance with the virtual area 42 having been determined by the virtual area determination step. |
| US08780048B2 |
Membrane keyboard scan circuit, scan method and keyboard having the same
A membrane keyboard scan circuit, a scan method and a keyboard having the same are provided. A row scan-port circuit of the scan circuit comprises a first and a second select branches corresponding to a first type of the membrane keyboard and a second type of the membrane keyboard respectively. A column scan-port circuit of the scan circuit comprises a fifth switch connected between a power supply voltage and an output port of the row scan-port circuit and a sixth switch connected between a ground line and the output port. The column scan-port circuit performs a scan output process to provide a row-scan timing signal to a key circuit of the membrane keyboard such that one of the first and the second select branches generates a sensing signal when the key circuit is triggered. |
| US08780045B2 |
Optical navigation with a dynamic SQUAL threshold
A system and method for tracking movement between a surface and an optical navigation device are described. In an embodiment, the optical navigation device has an image sensor that includes an array of pixels and motion tracking involves acquiring image information, the image information including pixel values that correspond to the pixels, calculating a surface quality (SQUAL) value from the image information, determining a level of saturation of the pixel array from pixel values of the image information, comparing the determined level of saturation of the pixel array to a saturation threshold, increasing a SQUAL threshold if the determined level of saturation of the pixel array is greater than the saturation threshold, and deciding whether or not to output motion tracking information in response to a comparison of the SQUAL value to the SQUAL threshold. Other embodiments of the method are also described. |
| US08780044B2 |
Retractable mouse structure
A mouse structure includes a housing and first and second sliding apparatuses. The housing has an accommodating portion and an opening The first sliding apparatus includes a base board and a sliding element, the base board being fixedly disposed in the accommodating portion, and the sliding element being slidably mounted on the base board. The second sliding apparatus is slidably disposed in the accommodating portion and includes a main body and a reacting portion connecting the main body, the main body being capable of sliding in and out of the accommodating portion from the opening. When the main body slides out of the opening, the sliding element is concurrently and separately pulled by the reacting portion to the first position, and when the main body slides into the accommodating portion, the sliding element is concurrently and separately pushed by the reacting portion to the second position. |
| US08780036B2 |
Display apparatus and method for driving backlight applied to the same
A display apparatus and a backlight driving method applied to the display apparatus are provided. The display apparatus controls to drive light sources of a backlight unit according to an image scanning scheme of a display panel and controls the luminance of each light source to equalize the luminance of the backlight emitting from the backlight unit with respect to a location of the light source. |
| US08780034B2 |
Method for driving semiconductor device including super-resolution processing
The resolution of a low-resolution image is made high and a stereoscopic image is displayed. Resolution is made high by super-resolution processing. In this case, the super-resolution processing is performed after edge enhancement processing is performed. Accordingly, a stereoscopic image with high resolution and high quality can be displayed. Alternatively, after image analysis processing is performed, edge enhancement processing and super-resolution processing are concurrently performed. Accordingly, processing time can be shortened. |
| US08780029B2 |
Signal conversion circuit, and multiple-primary-color liquid crystal display device provided with same
A multiprimary liquid crystal display device in which deteriorations in display quality caused by the coloration of a gray representation when viewed from an oblique direction are suppressed, and a signal conversion circuit for use in such a multiprimary liquid crystal display device are provided.A signal conversion circuit according to the present invention is for use in a multiprimary liquid crystal display device, the multiprimary liquid crystal display device having a pixel defined by a plurality of subpixels including a red subpixel, a green subpixel, a blue subpixel, and a yellow subpixel, and performing multicolor display by using four or more primary colors to be displayed by the plurality of subpixels, the signal conversion circuit converting an input video signal to a multiprimary signal corresponding to four or more primary colors. When a video signal for the pixel to display a gray color having a normalized luminance of no less than 0.2 and no more than 0.3 is input, the signal conversion circuit according to the present invention performs a conversion of the video signal so that, among the normalized luminances of the plurality of subpixels, the yellow subpixel has the lowest normalized luminance. |
| US08780024B2 |
Projector and method for projecting an image
A projector having an illumination modulator to modulate the intensity of the light in a pixel-individual manner, a projection lens projecting the light being modulated in a pixel-individual manner onto an image modulator to generate the image to be projected such that each illumination pixel is associated with at least one image pixel. A controller which generates illumination control data and generates image control data for the image modulator. The illumination control data are generated such that they have an on-value for each illumination pixel that is associated with at least one image pixel intended to represent a brightness value in the image that exceeds a predetermined threshold value according to the image data, said on-value selected such that each illumination pixel being associated with at least one image pixel intended to represent a brightness value according to the image data that exceeds a predetermined threshold value and falls short of a predetermined maximum value, is also at least temporarily switched to the second state during periods when the at least one associated image pixel is switched to the second state. |
| US08780023B2 |
Pixel chip, display panel, lighting panel, display unit, and lighting unit
There are provided a pixel chip capable of preventing false lighting of a light emitting device, a display panel including the pixel chip as a pixel, a lighting panel including the pixel chip as a pixel, a display unit including the display panel, and a lighting unit including the lighting panel. The pixel chip includes: one or a plurality of light emitting devices; a driver IC driving the light emitting devices; a connection section that is arranged between the light emitting devices and the driver IC, and electrically connects the light emitting devices to the driver IC; and a light shielding section that is arranged between the light emitting devices and the driver IC, and blocks direct entrance of light emitted from each of the light emitting devices into the driver IC together with the connection section. |
| US08780022B2 |
Method of driving organic electroluminescence emission portion
A pixel circuit and driving method are disclosed, wherein the pixel circuit comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, and a capacitor. The first transistor is connected between a power source and a light emission portion, and the second transistor is connected to a data line. The capacitor is initialized according to a potential, and a video signal is applied from the data line to the capacitor through the second transistor. For driving, an initialization voltage is applied to the data line and the video signal is supplied to the data line, with the second transistor being turned ON prior to applying the initialization voltage to the data line. |
| US08780018B2 |
Light emitting device and electronic appliance
The present invention is to provide a light emitting device capable of obtaining a certain luminance without influence by the temperature change, and a driving method thereof. A current mirror circuit formed by using a transistor is provided for each pixel. The first transistor and the second transistor of the current mirror circuit are connected such that the drain currents thereof are maintained at proportional values regardless of the load resistance value. Thereby, a light emitting device capable of controlling the OLED driving current and the luminance of the OLED by controlling the drain current of the first transistor at a value corresponding to a video signal in a driving circuit, and supplying the drain current of the second transistor to the OLED, is provided. |
| US08780015B2 |
Display device with image expansion via peripherial light guide elements
A direct-viewing type display device 100a includes: a display panel 10 having a display region 31 and a frame region 30 formed outside the display region; and a light guide element 21A having an incident face 21a, an outgoing face 21b, and a plurality of light guide paths formed between the incident face and the outgoing face. The incident face of the light guide element is disposed so as to overlap a portion 32 of a peripheral display region adjoining the frame region of the display panel along the first axis, and be parallel to the surface of the display panel. The outgoing face 21b of the light guide element has a distance from the incident face 21a that increases away from the portion 32 of the peripheral display region and toward the frame region 30 along the first axis, and extends to a position overlapping the frame region 30. According to the present invention, with a structure which is more simple and light-weight than conventionally, there is provided a direct-viewing type display device in which a frame region of a display panel, or a joint in the case of tiling, is obscured. |
| US08780012B2 |
Dielectric covered planar antennas
An antenna element suitable for integrated arrays at terahertz frequencies is disclosed. The antenna element comprises an extended spherical (e.g. hemispherical) semiconductor lens, e.g. silicon, antenna fed by a leaky wave waveguide feed. The extended spherical lens comprises a substantially spherical lens adjacent a substantially planar lens extension. A couple of TE/TM leaky wave modes are excited in a resonant cavity formed between a ground plane and the substantially planar lens extension by a waveguide block coupled to the ground plane. Due to these modes, the primary feed radiates inside the lens with a directive pattern that illuminates a small sector of the lens. The antenna structure is compatible with known semiconductor fabrication technology and enables production of large format imaging arrays. |
| US08780010B2 |
Metamaterial provided with at least one spiral conductor for propagating electromagnetic wave
A metamaterial including at least one spiral conductor. Only a magnetic permeability selected from among an effective dielectric constant and the magnetic permeability of the metamaterial becomes negative, so that the metamaterial have a negative refractive index characteristic. The material includes a plurality of unit cells arrayed in one of one-dimensional direction, two-dimensional directions, and three-dimensional directions. Each of the unit cells includes a dielectric substrate having first and second surfaces disposed in a substantially parallel relationship, and first and second spiral conductors. The first spiral conductor is formed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate, and the second spiral conductor is formed in one of a same direction as and an opposite direction to the first spiral conductor, on the second surface of the dielectric substrate, to oppose the first spiral conductor and to be electromagnetically coupled with the first spiral conductor. |
| US08780009B2 |
Adjustable spiral antenna for portable use
A spiral, helical antenna is configured to produce a generally circular polarized radiation pattern covering a range of frequencies, over a ground plane. The antenna is comprised of a spring-like spiral conductor that may be held in compression by a size and shape regulating outer nonconductive membrane. The assembly may be compressed and or extended to adjust the antenna for best performance in a particular situation. The assembly may be compressed into a generally flattened state for storage and or transportation, and extended at a later time for use. Accurate antenna dimensions and good performance are afforded by the use of high quality spring materials in conjunction with precise membrane dimensions. |
| US08780001B2 |
Asymmetrical dipole antenna
An asymmetrical dipole antenna is provided. A radiation module and a ground module are formed by a metallic conductor and arranged at an interval on a substrate of the antenna, and the radiation module and the ground module, respectively, have a radiation base and a ground base. Two radiation arms and two ground arms are formed by extending from two ends of the two respective bases in opposite directions. The two radiation arms are orthogonal to the radiation base, and the second radiation arm is bent and extended toward the first radiation arm to form an arc opened toward the first radiation arm. The two ground arms are orthogonal to the ground base, and a hook is formed by extending and bending the second ground arm toward the first ground arm. A feeder unit connects the feed point and the ground point of the two bases. |
| US08779998B1 |
Wideband horizontally polarized omnidirectional antenna
A wideband horizontally polarized antenna includes a metallic antenna housing having four sides, a rectangular or hourglass slot in each side that is preferably offset from center, a square coaxial transmission or feed line positioned along a central axis of the metallic antenna housing, and a metal tab connecting each of the slots to the feed line. The antenna operates over a wide bandwidth and has a small profile. |
| US08779997B2 |
Apparatus and method for a variable-ratio rotationally polarized slot-style television and radio broadcast antenna
Disclosed is a microwave or radio wave broadcast antenna array constructed to produce rotating fields of energy for broadcast or transmission. The array has an inner conductor enclosed within a tubular outer conductor, and is connected to an energy source. The outer conductor has slots in the wall of the conductor, and rotational polarizers are positioned on either side of the slots to induce rotation and polarization of the transmitted energy. |
| US08779995B2 |
High-frequency waveguide and phase shifter using same, radiator, electronic device which uses this phase shifter and radiator, antenna device, and electronic device equipped with same
This high-frequency waveguide is formed by first and second conductors disposed opposite each other at a spacing of λ0/2, where λ0 is the free space wavelength of the operating frequency of a high-frequency signal. A ridge is provided at the waveguide formation portion between these first and second conductors, which protrudes from one of the first and second conductors toward the other and is formed extending along the waveguide formation portion. A plurality of columnar protrusions with a height of λ0/4 are disposed at a spacing of less than λ0/2 to at least one of the first and second conductors on the outside of the waveguide formation portion and to the outside of the ridge. |
| US08779992B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and planar antenna thereof
A wireless communication apparatus and a planar antenna thereof are provided. The wireless communication apparatus comprises a connecting port, a printed circuit board, and a planar antenna. The printed circuit board is connected to the connecting port, and the planar antenna is formed on the printed circuit board. The planar antenna comprises a radiation portion, a shorting portion, and a feeding portion. The feeding portion is connected to the radiation portion and the shorting portion, and the radiation portion and the shorting portion are in a bent shape so that the radiation portion, the shorting portion and the feeding portion are distributed in a rectangular region. |
| US08779990B2 |
Antenna and wireless communication apparatus using same
An antenna which is laid out efficiently while ensuring a predetermined antenna directivity. An antenna area is formed on a corner of a substrate. An antenna conductor is formed in the antenna area, and is shaped so that a bend is formed between its ground end and its open end. A first ground area is formed on the substrate near the ground end of the antenna conductor, and is connected to the ground end. A second ground area is formed on the substrate near the open end of the antenna conductor. A feed unit feeds electricity to the antenna conductor. |
| US08779987B2 |
Multiply resonant antenna device and electronic device including such and antenna device
According to one embodiment, a multiply resonant antenna device according to the embodiment includes a first antenna element formed from a monopole element, a second antenna element formed from a parasitic element placed at a position where it can be current-coupled to the first antenna element, and a third antenna element formed from a folded monopole element. The length of the first antenna element is set to nearly a ¼ of wavelength corresponding to the first resonant frequency. The length of the second antenna element is set to nearly a ¼ of wavelength corresponding to the second resonant frequency. The electrical length of the third antenna element from the feed point to a ground point through a folding end is set to nearly a ½ of wavelength corresponding to the third resonant frequency higher than the first and second resonant frequencies. |
| US08779986B2 |
Wideband antenna
A wideband antenna includes a grounding element; a feed-in terminal; a first radiating unit, electrically connected to the feed-in terminal and extending from the feed-in terminal toward a first direction; a second radiating unit, electrically connected to the feed-in terminal, extending from the feed-in terminal toward a second direction, and including a meander-shaped element; and a third radiating unit, electrically connected to the grounding element, extending from the grounding element toward the first radiating unit and the second radiating unit, and having one segment parallel to the meander-shaped element, for coupling the meander-shaped element. |
| US08779984B2 |
Apparatus having mushroom structures
An apparatus having multiple mushroom structures is disclosed. Each of the multiple mushroom structures includes: a ground plate; a first patch provided parallel to the ground plate with a separation of a distance to the ground plate; and a second patch provided parallel to the ground plate with a separation of another distance to the ground plate, which another distance being different from the distance from the first patch to the ground plate, wherein the second patch is a passive element which is capacitatively coupled with at least the first patch. |
| US08779982B2 |
System for reducing antenna gain deterioration
A portable wireless device which effectively uses a space in a case while maintaining communication qualities by reducing antenna gain deterioration even when a plurality of antennas of different frequency bands are arranged adjacent to each other. The portable wireless device is provided with patterns for adding a band disturbing element, which is composed of beads and a parallel resonance circuit, to a part where one side of an antenna pattern of a magnetic field antenna is closed to between the main antenna and the magnetic field antenna is more easily generated. The band disturbing element may be composed of ferrite core or the like. |
| US08779978B1 |
Beamforming with partial channel knowledge
An apparatus for use in transmit beamforming to a beamformee having NR receive antennas. The apparatus includes a controller configured to i) construct a partial channel matrix that describes a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) channel between a beamformer and M receive antennas, wherein M is less than NR, and ii) generate L independent vectors using the partial channel matrix, wherein L is a rank of the partial channel matrix. When a number NS of one or more streams is greater than L, the controller is further configured to i) select the L independent vectors as steering vectors to steer L streams of the plurality of streams, and ii) select NS−L orthogonal vectors in a null space of the L independent vectors as steering vectors to steer a remainder of the streams in the plurality of streams. |
| US08779977B2 |
Electro optical scanning phased array antenna for pulsed operation
An electro optical scanning phased array antenna having a laser which generates a pulsed output. A microwave source has an output which amplitude modulates the optical output from the laser through an optical modulator. An optical loop circuit has an input connected to an output from the optical modulator and a variable time delay element. The optical loop circuit generates a plurality of modulated optical pulses at equidistantly spaced time intervals from each other at an output from the loop circuit. These time intervals vary as a function of the variable time delay element and a control circuit controls the time delay attributable to the variable time delay element. An antenna array includes end elements while a circuit converts the optical output pulses from the optical loop circuit to radio frequency signals electrically connected to the elements of the antenna array. |
| US08779968B2 |
System and method for microwave ranging to a target in presence of clutter and multi-path effects
A system for measuring the range to an RFID tag including situations containing high clutter and multi-path signals is disclosed. The system includes an RFID reader; an RFID tag; and a coordinated pulse radar system. In the system the RFID reader causes the tag to respond to received signals in a first backscatter state at a first time and a second backscatter state at a second time. The pulsed radar system transmits short pulses coordinated by the backscatter state of the RFID tag and the system creates a differential signal comprised of the differences between radar signals obtained during the first and second states of the tag to obtain an uncorrupted measure of a round trip time of flight of said radar pulses between the pulse radar system and the RFID tag. |
| US08779967B2 |
Sensor cart positioning system and method
A movable platform has a front end, a back end, a longitudinal axis, and at least one axle oriented generally transverse to the longitudinal axis and located between the front and back ends for supporting wheels of the platform. A position sensor is affixed on the platform at a location other than at a location defined by a plane passing through the axle and normal to the longitudinal axis. The position sensor provides position data as the platform traverses a path. A sensor arrangement is supported by the platform and configured to provide subsurface sensor data as the platform traverses the path. A processor is configured to associate the position data with the sensor data relative to a reference frame and in a manner that accounts for dynamic motion of the platform. |
| US08779960B2 |
Method for operating an electromechanical actuator
A method is provided for operating an electromechanical actuator comprising a movable element, a position sensor for detecting the position of the movable element, a logic unit connected to the position sensor, and exactly one output line for the logic unit to transmit a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal having a predetermined frequency value, the method providing for the logic unit to perform detecting a position of the movable element, determining a value of a duty cycle of the pulse width modulated (PWM) signal on the basis of the detected position of the movable element, and transmitting a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal indicative of the position of the movable element having the determined value of the duty cycle. |
| US08779954B2 |
AD (analog-to-digital) conversion circuit, micro-controller, and method of adjusting sampling time
An AD (analog-to-digital) conversion circuit includes a capacitor array formed of a plurality of capacitors; a sample hold circuit configured to apply an analog input voltage input through an input terminal to the capacitor array so that the analog input voltage is accumulated in the capacitor array until a sampling time set is elapsed; a comparator circuit configured to sequentially retrieve the analog input voltage accumulated in each of the capacitors of the capacitor array, and to compare the analog input voltage with a reference voltage defined in advance to generate a digital signal; and a sampling time adjusting circuit configured to measure a period of time when a voltage on an input side of the sample hold circuit reaches a threshold value defined in advance relative to the reference voltage, and to set a time determined according to the period of time as the sampling time. |
| US08779952B1 |
Background calibration of threshold errors in analog to digital converters
A method of background calibration of threshold errors in a data communication system is provided. In an implementation, the method uses sampler statistics just after foreground calibration as the reference signal in a control loop method to remove individual sampler offsets. In an implementation in which an analog to digital converter (ADC) includes a plurality of sub-ADCs, gain, offset, and individual threshold errors across parallel, time-interleaved sub-ADCs are minimized by establishing individual comparator statistics for the average sub-ADC after an initial foreground calibration, then forcing each individual comparator to maintain its statistics over time, in the background, by continuously adjusting its threshold. |
| US08779947B2 |
Vehicle-related messaging methods and systems
Vehicle-related messaging methods and systems are disclosed herein. In one of the methods, a telematics unit disposed in a vehicle detects that the vehicle is no longer in operation. Upon making the detection, the telematics unit automatically transmits a message to a device, where the message includes a suggestion, a recommendation, an indication, or a notification pertaining to a vehicle utility. An application resident on the device, or on a cloud computing system in communication with the device, presents the message on the device by displaying i) the suggestion, the recommendation, the indication, or the notification and ii) a plurality of actionable items associated with the suggestion, the recommendation, the indication, or the notification. |
| US08779945B2 |
Virtual ice accretion meter display
A flight display for an aircraft includes a virtual ice accretion meter having a liquid water content portion and an ice thickness portion. A method for determining ice accretion includes integrating over a time period a constant K multiplied by a liquid water content (LWC) and true airspeed (TAS). |
| US08779944B2 |
Optical image monitoring system and method for vehicles
A system and method of acquiring information from an image of a vehicle in real time wherein at least one imaging device with advanced light metering capabilities is placed aboard a vehicle, a computer processor means is provided to control the imaging device and the advanced light metering capabilities, the advanced light metering capabilities are used to capture an image of at least a portion of the vehicle, and image recognition algorithms are used to identify the current state or position of the corresponding portion of the vehicle. |
| US08779941B2 |
Providing guidance for locating street parking
A facility for providing guidance for locating street parking is described. The facility receives an indication of a geographic location with respect to which provide parking guidance, and determines an effective time for which to provide guidance. The facility then provides parking guidance relating to the indicated location at the effective time for a use. |
| US08779939B2 |
Method for assisting a driver of a vehicle when parking in a parking space
A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle when parking in a parking space is disclosed. The method involves measuring a possible parking space, calculating a parking trajectory on the basis of a current parking space geometry determined from the measurement of the parking space and on the basis of a vehicle position relative to the parking space, and a parking process is subsequently carried out during which the vehicle is steered along the parking trajectory into the parking space, continuing to determine, during the parking process, the current parking space geometry and is compared with a previous parking space geometry determined before the start of the parking process, where, if the two parking space geometries differ from one another, a deviation which is present is evaluated and the parking trajectory corrected and/or re-calculated. |
| US08779937B2 |
Exterior mirror reflective element sub-assembly
A mirror reflective element sub-assembly includes a mirror reflective element and a mirror back plate. The back plate has an indicator mounting portion. An aperture is established through the back plate generally at the indicator mounting portion. A heater pad is disposed between the mirror reflective element and the back plate. The heater pad has a light transmitting portion generally aligned with the aperture of the back plate. A self-contained substantially sealed indicator is mounted at the indicator mounting portion and has a light source that is activatable to emit light. When an equipped exterior rearview mirror assembly is mounted at a side of a vehicle and with the light source activated, light emitted by the light source transmits through the aperture of the back plate and the light transmitting portion of the heater pad and exits the mirror reflective element. |
| US08779935B2 |
Systems and methods for simulating motion with sound
A movement warning system for notifying a proximal entity of the approach of a vehicle comprising a sensor system, a controlling mobile device, and a signal generator system. The sensor system generates motion data indicative of movement of the vehicle. The controlling mobile device generates at least one warning signal based on the motion data. The signal generator system generates at least one warning based on the to at least one warning signal. The signal generator generates the warning such that the proximal entity perceives the warning. |
| US08779931B2 |
Method and apparatus for communicating power distribution event and location
A system, device, and method of providing information for a power distribution system is provided. In one embodiment, a method of using a device that receives power from the low voltage power of the power distribution system and experiences a power loss during a local power outage may perform the processes of monitoring a voltage of the low voltage power line, detecting a voltage reduction below a threshold voltage for a predetermined time period, storing information of the voltage reduction in a non-volatile memory prior to the power outage, and transmitting a notification to a remote computer system prior to the outage. The monitoring may comprise making a plurality of measurements of the voltage during a time interval and averaging the plurality of voltage measurements. In addition, the method may include transmitting an alert message upon power up after the outage to indicate a power restoration local to the device. |
| US08779928B2 |
Systems and methods to detect generator collector flashover
Systems and methods for generating a collector flashover alert by passive monitoring of a generator are provided. One method includes receiving, by a computing device, signals from a current transformer coupled around an exciter cable connected to a generator collector assembly, determining, by the computing device, when a spark has occurred in the generator collector assembly based at least in part on received signals from the current transformer, generating an indication that a spark has occurred in the generator collector assembly when it is determined that a spark has occurred in the generator collector assembly, and generating a flashover alert based at least in part on the generated indication that a spark has occurred in the generator collector assembly. |
| US08779926B2 |
Presenting information regarding conditions of an environment with a visual representation of the environment
Configuring a user interface by which a user can view information regarding one or more conditions of an environment collected by an environmental monitoring system. An environmental monitoring system comprises one or more sensor units disposed in an environment and one or more servers. The servers may receive from an operator of the environment a visual representation of the environment and may identify a position in the visual representation corresponding to the location and configure a user interface to present information regarding the environment based at least in part on the positions. The user interface can be configured to display the visual representation and display information related to the first sensor unit so as to indicate a relationship between the information and the position corresponding to the location of the first sensor unit. Information identifying a location of one or more sensor units may be determined through an automated process. |
| US08779924B2 |
Nurse call system with additional status board
A healthcare information system for use in a healthcare facility having patient beds in a plurality of patient rooms is provided. The healthcare information system has a nurse call computer which is located at a nurse's station and which is configured to receive nurse calls and/or safety alerts originating from the patient rooms. The healthcare information system has a status board computer which is also located at the nurse's station and which is operable to display, for more than one patient, information regarding the patient, staff location, bed data, and room status. |
| US08779919B1 |
Event communication apparatus and method
A method and apparatus is described for transmitting event codes from a base station to a remote location. In one embodiment, a method is described, executed by a processor within an event communication module, the method comprising receiving an encoded event code from a base station over an interface connection, selecting a first transmission method from two or more communication methods based on the received event code, encoding the event code based on the first communication method, and transmitting the encoded event code to remote location by a communication module configured to communicate using the first communication method. |
| US08779916B2 |
Timeline presentations of process control system alarms
Timeline presentations of process control system alarms are described. An operator interface apparatus for a process control system is described that includes an operator display module to present an operator application on a display. The operator interface also includes an alarm presentation interface to be presented on the display via the operator application. The alarm presentation interface includes a timeline to graphically indicate a temporal relationship of a plurality of active alarms of the process control system. |
| US08779914B2 |
Safety rearview mirror
A safety rearview mirror for the backseat of automobile vehicles, comprising a rigid plaque which has on one of its faces a finished and reflective surface and on the other face an opaque covering, except for at least, a zone free of the covering, wherein this zone corresponds to signs and/or drawings which are visible through transparency due to a light source associated with the other face. The light source may be of the LED/LCD type or an incandescent lamp. |
| US08779913B2 |
Transmission indicator for vehicle
A transmission indicator apparatus for a vehicle, may include a base provided on a side of a gearshift lever of the vehicle, a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) circuit mounted on the base and provided with light sources, a cover provided above the PCB circuit to shield an internal structure therein, wherein stage characters of a stage character part and stage selection displays of a stage selection part may be formed on the cover to transmit light of the light sources and be thus distinguished, and a partition provided in a space between the PCB circuit and the cover and located between the stage character part and the stage selection part of the cover, thus preventing light interference between the light sources. |
| US08779912B2 |
System and method for immobilizing a vehicle
In accordance with one embodiment, an onboard computer (OBC) and associated circuitry capable of spoofing or mimicking a fault condition tricks an electronic control module (ECM) of an automobile or other such vehicle into implementing an engine derate procedure resulting in vehicle immobilization that is safe and that is credibly attributable to a genuine vehicle fault condition. For example, in response to an engine shutdown command, the OBC might cause a fault-spoofing engine shutdown device in one embodiment to spoof an engine overheating condition by inserting an electrical resistance in parallel with the resistance of an engine temperature sensor, thus lowering the electrical resistance of the temperature sensor as detected by the ECM. |
| US08779908B2 |
System and method for social dancing
A system and method for enabling social dancing. The system comprising a movement registration module configured to monitor and identify movements by a participant; and a tactile feedback actuator configured to supply tactile feedback to the participant based on a determination by a logic module. The method performed by a computerized device, the method comprising: monitoring movements by a participant; determining feedback in response to the movements; and instructing a tactile feedback actuator to supply the feedback to the participant. |
| US08779904B2 |
Multimode remote controller comprising an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a capacitive pressure transducer, and a touch pad
A remote controller generates control signals according to the speed of movement sensed by a three-axis accelerometer and the direction of movement sensed by a gyroscope and transmits the control signals to a remotely controlled device communicating with the remote controller when the remote controller is in a first work mode, generates control signals according to touch sensing signals from a touch pad and transmits the control signals to the remotely controlled device when the remote controller is in a second work mode, and further generates control signals according to variations in the capacitance of the capacitive type pressure transducer unit and transmits the control signals to the remotely controlled device when the remote controller is in a third work mode. |
| US08779900B2 |
RFID interrogator having collision type identification function and control method thereof
Disclosed is an RFID interrogator having a collision type identification function and a control method thereof. It verifies whether or not a collision occurs in a received signal by analyzing data of a signal received from an RF communication unit and performs a corresponding collision resolution operation by diagnosing a collision type in accordance with a collision generation means between the corresponding RFID interrogator and other interrogators or a tag. Since all types of collisions that occur between the RFID interrogator and the tag can be identified, a reason for occurrence of the collisions can be rapidly recognized to cope with the reason for the collisions. |
| US08779899B2 |
RFID interrogator retransmitting command depending on collision situation and control method thereof
As an RFID interrogator transmitting a command depending on a collision situation and a control method thereof, the RFID interrogator includes a collision diagnosis unit that analyzes data of a received signal received during a receive time in correspondence with a transmitted signal from an RF communication unit that can transmit and receive signal to and from one or more tag, verifies whether or not a collision occurs in the received signal, and diagnoses a collision type depending on an analysis result of the data of the received signal; and a collision resolution unit that can retransmit a command to the tag through the RF communication unit depending on the collision situation on the basis of whether or not occurrence of the collision or not and the collision type that are received from the collision diagnosis unit. |
| US08779895B2 |
Ultrasound zone location system with high capacity
A zone location system with ultrasound US transmitters S1, S2, S3 located in respective zones Z1, Z2, Z3 such as rooms of a building B. Preferably, the US transmitters are time-multiplexed so that each of them in turn transmits a US signal US with a unique ID code USID represented therein. The portable tag PT includes an ultrasound receiver USR arranged to receive the US signal. Based on the received US signal, the portable tag PT measures a strength of the received US signal. The portable tag PT also measures a parameter related to a movement of the portable tag PT, e.g. a Doppler shift based on the received US signal. Further, the portable tag extracts the USID. Then it transmits a wireless Radio Frequency signal RFS with its own ID PTID, the USID and first and second data values D1, D2 representing the signal strength and the movement related parameters. A processor P connected to a Radio Frequency receiver RFR receives the data from the portable tag PT and determines a connection between PTID and the zone Z2 in which it is present based on the USID. Further, the processor utilizes data D1 and D2 to calculate an estimated position POS within the zone Z2. Especially, estimated distance between US transmitter S2 and portable tag PT and velocity of the portable tag may be estimated based on D1 and D2, thus assisting in estimating the position POS of the portable tag PT. The system may further be combined with a Radio Frequency based positioning system, e.g. an RF signal strength based system, thereby enhancing the resolution of the estimated position POS of the portable tag PT. Further, such combined system help location in complicated and changing environments and in situations where the portable tag PT may be out of reach for US signals, e.g. when attached to a paper file enclosed in a box. |
| US08779892B2 |
Wireless illumination controller with the function to set the lowest driving power
A wireless illumination controller with the function to set the lowest driving power includes a microprocessor, a driver, an illumination control switch, and a wireless receiving module. The microprocessor is built in with an adjustable lowest power and connected with the driver, the illumination control switch, the wireless receiving module and a power processing module. The illumination control switch is used to set the lowest power of the microprocessor. After the wireless receiving module receives a wireless illumination adjustment command, the power of the driving signal output from the driver is controlled to be not lower than the lowest power. Therefore, when a user adjusts the illumination, the driving power is never lower than the lowest driving power of the corresponding light bulb, thereby avoiding flickering. |
| US08779891B2 |
Access control device
The invention relates to an access control device, in particular for a switchgear cabinet system, having a central unit, which is designed to receive and evaluate access authorization data stored on personal transponders and to output release signals via a wireless signal transmission link and to release a relevant interlocking unit, and which has an authentication device with a testing stage in which comparison data for testing the received access authorization data for access authorization is present. Increased security is achieved in that, in addition, at least one input station having an input unit is present, which is or can be used to establish a wireless data transmission connection to the central unit for the transmission of input data that is different from the access authorization data, the authentication device is designed to operate in two stages and has a further testing stage, which is designed for the direct or indirect allocation of the input data to the access authorization data and to check agreement between the access authorization data and the input data with regard to the access authorization, and the central unit is designed to output the release signals when the access authorization has been established after checking by means of the further testing stage. |
| US08779886B2 |
Switch structures
A device, such as a switch structure, is provided. The switch structure can include a contact and a conductive element each respectively disposed on a substrate. The conductive element can be composed substantially of metallic material, and can be configured to be deformable between a first position, in which the conductive element is separated from the contact by a separation distance, and a second position, in which the conductive element contacts the contact and stores mechanical energy. The conductive element can be further configured such that, subsequent to being deformed into the second position at a temperature between about room temperature and about half of a melting temperature of the metallic material for a cumulative time of at least 107 seconds, the separation distance in the absence of external forces varies by less than 20 percent over the cumulative time. Associated methods are also provided. |
| US08779885B2 |
Method for making magnetic components with M-phase coupling, and related inductor structures
An M phase coupled inductor includes a magnetic core including a first end magnetic element, a second end magnetic element, and M legs disposed between and connecting the first and second end magnetic elements. M is an integer greater than one. The coupled inductor further includes M windings, where each winding has a substantially rectangular cross section. Each one of the M windings is at least partially wound about a respective leg. |
| US08779884B2 |
Multilayered inductor and method of manufacturing the same
There is provided a multilayered inductor, including: an inductor body; a coil part formed on the inductor body and having a conductive circuit and a conductive via; and external electrodes formed on both end surfaces of the inductor body, wherein the inductor body includes 65 to 95 wt % of a metallic magnetic material and 5 to 35 wt % of an organic material. |
| US08779883B2 |
Coil device
A coil device 10 comprises a bobbin 40 having a bobbin plate 42 provided with a first hollow cylinder 44 on which a primary coil 20 is wound, and a case 50 provided with a second hollow cylinder 54 wound by a secondary coil 30 at the outer circumference. On the bobbin plate 42, a primary terminal 70 connecting to the primary coil 20 and a secondary terminal 72 connecting to the secondary coil 30 are formed, and a tip end portion 55a of case 50 is extended to the end portion of the bobbin plate 42 to which the secondary terminal 72 is formed. Further, on the tip end portion 55a, plural first grooves 57a for lead are formed. |
| US08779882B2 |
Center tapped transformers for isolated power converters
A cost effective solution for construction of high frequency, double ended, isolated, push pull, center tapped power transformers operating in continuous/discontinuous mode with minimized winding proximity losses comprises at least two identical sets of windings with identical coupling coefficients. Each set of windings consists of at least one primary winding and at least one secondary winding tightly coupled to each other. Both the sets of windings are loosely coupled to each other with a magnetic field isolating separator. |
| US08779881B2 |
Varying inductance
The present application relates to circuitry having a plurality of inductors, each inductor having a first end and a second end; and a switching arrangement connected to the first end and to the second end of each of the plurality of inductors for routing a current via the inductors; wherein the switching arrangement is arranged to at least one of selectably prevent current from flowing through a subset of the plurality of inductors and select a current flow direction through one of the inductors relative to a current flow direction through at least one other of the inductors so as to vary an effective inductance that the plurality of inductors represents to the current. |
| US08779868B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device with adjustable impedance matching network and associated methods
A mobile device includes an adjustable impedance matching network coupled between a power amplifier and an antenna and has an adjustable impedance element. An impedance sensor is coupled between the power amplifier and adjustable impedance matching network. A processor is configured to a) calculate a corrected antenna load impedance based upon a sensed impedance at inputs of the impedance matching network and a current value of the adjustable impedance element, and b) determine a new value for the adjustable impedance element based upon the corrected antenna load impedance. The processor is also configured to c) set the adjustable impedance element to the new value, and d) sense a new impedance at the inputs and determine if the sensed new impedance is within a threshold value of the power amplifier impedance, and repeat steps a), b), and c) if the sensed new impedance is not within the threshold value. |
| US08779867B2 |
Split varactor array with improved matching and varactor switching scheme
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a digital controlled oscillator. The oscillator includes an oscillator circuit, a varactor array, and a control circuit. The oscillator circuit receives a control word and a signal and generates an oscillator clock signal from the signal at a frequency selected by the control word. The varactor array has a first array of varactor cells having incremental capacitance values and a second array of varactor cells having equal capacitance values. The split varactor array provides a capacitance value. A control circuit is coupled to the oscillator circuit and controls the split varactor array according to the control word. The control circuit sets varactor cells of the split varactor array on or off. |
| US08779864B2 |
Oscillator having negative resistance element
An oscillator has a negative resistance element and a resonator along with a capacitor electrically connected in parallel with the negative resistance element relative to a power bias circuit, a capacitance of the capacitor being so selected as to suppress any parasitic oscillation due to the power bias circuit and allow oscillation at a resonance frequency due to the negative resistance element and the resonator. |
| US08779863B2 |
Generating an oscillator signal having a desired frequency in a continuous frequency range
A method of generating a first oscillator signal having a desired frequency in a first frequency range comprises generating in a voltage controlled oscillator unit a second oscillator signal having a frequency in a second frequency range of at least one octave. The method further comprises selecting said second continuous frequency range to have a lower endpoint in said first frequency range and an upper endpoint above said range; and selectively using the oscillator signal unchanged or dividing it by a division ratio selected from integer powers of the number 2 to obtain said first oscillator signal. By centering the VCO higher than otherwise required and using an additional divider, so that the VCO signal can selectively be used unchanged or divided, a sufficient margin below as well as above the desired range for e.g. drift and tolerances of the VCO is achieved. It also simplifies the VCO design. |
| US08779861B2 |
Multi-phase voltage controlled oscillator using capacitance degenerated single ended transconductance stage and inductance/capacitance load
An electrical circuit includes a first transistor having a first source, a first drain, and a first gate, whereby the first transistor receives an input voltage through the first gate. An output voltage terminal outputs voltage from the first transistor and is connected to the first drain. A second transistor includes a second source, a second drain, and a second gate, whereby the second transistor receives a bias voltage through the second gate, and wherein the first source is connected to the second drain. A first capacitor is connected to the first source, the second source, and the second drain. An inductor is connected to the first drain. A second capacitor is connected in parallel with the inductor and further connected to the first drain. |
| US08779859B2 |
Multi-cascode amplifier bias techniques
Techniques for generating bias voltages for a multi-cascode amplifier. In an aspect, a multi-cascode bias network is provided, each transistor in the bias network being a replica of a corresponding transistor in the multi-cascode amplifier, enabling accurate biasing of the transistors in the multi-cascode amplifier. In another aspect, a voltage supply for the multi-cascode amplifier is provided separately from a voltage supply for the replica bias network, to advantageously decouple variations in the amplifier voltage supply from the bias network voltage supply. In yet another aspect, the bias voltages of transistors in the multi-cascode amplifier may be configured by adjusting the impedance of resistive voltage dividers coupled to the transistor gate biases. As the gain of the amplifier depends on the bias voltages of the cascode amplifiers, the gain of the amplifier may be adjusted in this manner without introducing a variable gain element directly in the amplifier signal path. |
| US08779858B2 |
Amplifier circuit, detector arrangement and method for operating an amplifier
An amplifier circuit comprises a measurement path with an amplifier (1) for providing an output voltage (Vout) depending on a measuring current (Ipd) with a first and a second amplifier input (11, 12), and an amplifier output (13). A return path of the amplifier circuit comprises a first filter (2), an auxiliary amplifier (3) and a second filter (4). In this case, the first filter (2) is designed to filter a DC voltage from the output voltage (Vout) and is connected to the amplifier output (13). The auxiliary amplifier (3) serves to convert an input voltage (Vfil) into an output current (Ifil) and has a first and a second auxiliary amplifier input (31, 32) and an auxiliary amplifier output (33). In this case, the first auxiliary amplifier input (31) is connected to the first filter (2). The second filter (4) is designed to filter noise from the output current (Ifil) and couples the auxiliary amplifier output (33) to the first amplifier input (11). |
| US08779857B2 |
Amplifier with variable matching circuit to improve linearity
Techniques for reducing distortion and improving linearity of amplifiers are described. In an exemplary design, an apparatus includes a driver amplifier, a variable matching circuit, and a power amplifier. The driver amplifier amplifies a first RF signal and provides a second RF signal. The variable matching circuit receives the second RF signal and provides a third RF signal. The power amplifier amplifies the third RF signal and provides a fourth RF signal. The variable matching circuit matches a fixed impedance at the output of the driver amplifier to a variable impedance at the input of the power amplifier in order to improve the linearity of the amplifiers. In an exemplary design, the power amplifier includes a first transistor (e.g., an NMOS transistor) of a first type, and the variable matching circuit includes a second transistor (e.g., a PMOS transistor) of a second type that is different from the first type. |
| US08779856B2 |
Doherty amplifier circuit with phase-controlled load modulation
A symmetric Doherty amplifier includes a main amplifier and a peaking amplifier of the same size as the main amplifier. The symmetric Doherty amplifier is configured to operate at peak output power when the main amplifier and the peaking amplifier are each in saturation, and at output-back-off (OBO) when the main amplifier is in saturation and the peaking amplifier is not in saturation. Phase shift circuitry is configured to shift the phase at an output of the peaking amplifier at OBO so that a load impedance seen by the main amplifier and efficiency of the symmetric Doherty amplifier both increase at OBO as a function of the phase shift at the peaking amplifier output. |
| US08779855B2 |
Power amplification circuit having transformer
In order to realize a wider bandwidth of a frequency characteristic of a power amplification circuit, outputs of differential push-pull amplifiers which are matched at respectively different frequencies are combined together by secondary inductors, and the combined signal is outputted. |
| US08779852B2 |
Class resonant-H electrosurgical generators
A generator for use with an electrosurgical device is provided. The generator has a gain stage electrically disposed between a first voltage rail and a second voltage rail, wherein the gain stage includes an input and an output. A voltage source operably coupled to the gain stage input and configured to provide an input signal thereto responsive to a drive control signal is also provided. The generator also has one or more sensors configured to sense an operational parameter of the amplifier and to provide a sensor signal corresponding thereto and a controller adapted to receive the sensor signal(s) and in response thereto provide a drive control signal to the voltage source. The generator has an amplifier output configured to supply an output voltage corresponding to the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail when the output of the gain stage falls between a voltage of the first voltage rail and a voltage of the second voltage rail and is configured to supply a peak voltage output when the voltage output is falls greater than the voltage of the first voltage rail or less than the voltage of the second voltage rail. |
| US08779848B2 |
Two terminal memcapacitor device
A memcapacitor device includes a memcapacitive matrix interposed between a first electrode and a second electrode. The memcapacitive matrix includes deep level dopants having a first decay time constant and shallow level dopants having a second decay time constant. The second decay time constant is substantially shorter than the first decay time constant. The capacitance of the memcapacitor device depends upon an initial voltage applied across the memcapacitive matrix and a time dependent change in capacitance of the memcapacitor device depends upon the first decay time constant. A method for forming a memcapacitive device is also provided. |
| US08779847B1 |
Systems and methods for finite impulse response adaptation for gain and phase control
System and methods are provided for signal processing. For example, an input signal is received at a finite impulse response filter circuit including a plurality of stages, where each stage of the plurality of stages is associated with a sample value of the input signal and a stage weight. An output signal is generated using the finite impulse response filter circuit, the output signal being equal to a weighted sum of the sample values of the input signal. An error signal is generated to indicate a difference between the output signal and a target. A constraint is applied to one or more of the stage weights. The stage weights are changed within the constraint to reduce a magnitude of the error signal. |
| US08779838B2 |
Methodology and apparatus for tuning driving current of semiconductor transistors
A method and apparatus for repairing transistors comprises applying a first voltage to a source, a second voltage to the gate and a third voltage to the drain for a predetermined time In this manner the semiconductor structure may be repaired or returned to the at or near the original operating characteristics. |
| US08779837B2 |
Load control device
A load control device includes a switching unit which is connected to a power source and a load in series and has a switch device having a transistor structure, a control unit configured to control start-up and stop of the load, and a gate driving unit, which is electrically insulated from the control unit and outputs a gate driving signal to the gate electrode of the switch device. The control unit controls the gate driving unit to supply a higher driving power to the gate electrode of the switch device for a predetermined period of time starting at the start-up of the load than that in a steady state. |
| US08779833B2 |
Current-mode CMOS logarithmic function circuit
The current-mode CMOS logarithmic function circuit provides an ultra-low power circuit that produces an output current proportional to the logarithm of the input current. An OTA (operational transconductance amplifier) constructed from CMOS transistors, in combination with two PMOS transistors configured in weak inversion mode for providing a reference voltage input and a voltage input from the input current to the OTA, provides the circuit with a high dynamic range, controllable amplitude, high accuracy, and insensitivity to temperature variation. |
| US08779831B2 |
Integrator
An integrator (100) comprises an amplification and phase shifting element (170) with a feedback path (130) forming a loop and comprising a capacitive element (140). An input signal is summed into the loop, and the loop is arranged to oscillate at an oscillation frequency higher than the frequencies of interest in the input signal. The loop includes a filter (160) for attenuating the oscillation signal to ensure that the amplification and phase shifting element (170) can provide amplification for the input signal. The input signal is integrated and the integrated signal perturbs the zero crossings of the oscillation signal. |
| US08779825B2 |
Signal processing apparatus
A delay element delays an output signal Dt from an arithmetic circuit and outputs a delayed signal Dd. An XOR element compares the output signal Dt with the delayed signal Dd, and outputs an XORout signal with the signal value “0” when the signals match each other, and outputs an XORout signal with the signal value “1” when the signals do not match each other. In a flip-flop, when the signal value of the XORout signal at the rise of a clock of a clock signal CK is “0”, the output signal Dt is output from a flip-flop, and when the signal value of the XORout signal at the rise of the clock becomes “1” even once, a fixed value of the signal value “0” continues to be output. |
| US08779821B2 |
Signal delay circuit and signal delay method
A signal delay circuit comprising: a first delay stage, for delaying a first input signal to generate a first delay signal; and a second delay stage, for cooperating with part of delay units of the first delay stage to delay the first delay signal to generate a second delay signal. The signal delay circuit selectively enables the delay stages of the first delay stage or the second delay stage, wherein the signal delay circuit mixes the first delay signal and the second delay signal to generate a first mixed signal when the first delay stage and the second delay stage are both enabled. |
| US08779815B2 |
Low power oversampling with delay locked loop implementation
In one embodiment, an apparatus including a phase detector unit to determine a phase difference between a reference clock signal and a feedback clock signal. The apparatus further includes a controller unit to generate a delay signal based on the phase difference. The apparatus further includes a set of voltage-controlled delay lines to generate phase outputs based on the delay signal, where the phase outputs are provided by the apparatus to a clock generator unit to generate an oversampled clock signal for data recovery by a receiver. |
| US08779812B1 |
Hybrid PLL/FLL circuit to provide a clock
Clock circuits are presented for providing a clock signal using multiple reference clock signals, including a PLL operating from a PLL reference clock signal, an FLL operating from an FLL reference clock signal, and a multiplexer circuit that selectively provides up and down signals from either a PFD of the PLL or the FLL to a charge pump of the PLL according to a reference clock select signal. |
| US08779805B1 |
Output driver having improved switching delay and associated methods
A switching device for driving a load is provided. The switching device comprises a control terminal and has a conduction threshold which, when crossed by a control signal coupled to the control terminal, causes the switching device to conduct. A control circuit for generating the control signal is also provided. The control circuit is configured to generate a control signal having a first slew rate prior to the control signal crossing the conduction threshold and a second slew rate after the control signal has crossed the conduction threshold. The first slew rate may be faster than the second slew rate. |
| US08779803B2 |
Data output driver and integrated circuit including the same
A data output driver includes a pull-up output pre-driver configured to output a plurality of pull-up signals, wherein whether each of the plurality of pull-up signals is enabled is determined in accordance with a driver mode signal, a pull-down output pre-driver configured to output a plurality of pull-down signals, wherein whether each of the plurality of pull-down signals is enabled is determined in accordance with the driver mode signal, and an output driver circuit configured to output data, wherein a driver strength of the output driver circuit is determined in accordance with the pull-up signals and pull-down signals. |
| US08779801B2 |
Analog signal soft switching control with precise current steering generator
A switching circuit includes a first input stage having an input for receiving a first input signal, an output, and a power terminal for receiving an increasing analog current, a second input stage having an input for receiving a second input signal, an output, and a power terminal for receiving a decreasing analog current, and an output node coupled to the outputs of the first input stage and the second input stage for providing a switched output signal. An output stage is coupled between the first and second input stages and the output node. The first and second input stages are operational amplifiers. |
| US08779800B2 |
Control signal generation circuit and sense amplifier circuit using the same
A control signal generation circuit includes a voltage detection unit which detects a level of an external voltage and generates first and second detection signals and a control signal control unit which delays a sense amplifier enable signal in response to the first and second detection signals and generates first through third control signals. The enable period of the first and second control signals are controlled based on the levels of the first and second detection signals. |
| US08779796B2 |
Method and apparatus for device parameter measurement
A method of measuring a parameter of a device in a circuit includes providing a device under test (DUT). The DUT includes a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor having a gate, a source, and a drain coupled to a first voltage supply node. The method further includes coupling a constant current source to the source of the transistor, coupling an operational amplifier to the transistor, and measuring a parameter of the transistor. |
| US08779794B2 |
Transistor power switch device and method of measuring its characteristics
A transistor power switch device comprising an array of vertical transistor elements for carrying current between first and second faces of a semiconductor body. The device also comprises a semiconductor monitor element comprising first and second semiconductor monitor regions in the semiconductor body and a monitor conductive layer distinct from the current carrying conductive layer of the transistor array. The semiconductor monitor element presents semiconductor properties representative of the transistor array. Characteristics of the semiconductor monitor element are measured as representative of characteristics of the transistor array. Source metal ageing of a transistor power switch device is monitored by measuring and recording a parameter which is a function of a sheet resistance of the monitor conductive layer when the transistor power switch device is new and comparing it with its value after operation of the device. A measured current is applied between a first location on an elongate strip element of the monitor conductive layer and a first location on one of a pair of lateral extensions of the strip, and the corresponding voltage developed between a second location on the elongate strip element and the other of said pair of lateral extensions is measured. |
| US08779792B2 |
Tester and semiconductor device test apparatus having the same
Provided are a tester and a semiconductor device test apparatus having the tester. The tester includes a tested head configured to transfer electronic signals to a probe card. The tester also includes a leveling unit is provided on the tester head. The leveling unit is configured to apply a load to the probe card to maintain a level state of the probe card. |
| US08779791B2 |
Method of manufacturing probe having boards connected by magnets
A probe includes a plurality of boards each of which has a plurality of magnets, a plurality of the boards include a first board and a second board laid on the first board, a plurality of the magnets include a plurality of first magnets provided with the first board and a plurality of second magnets provided with the second board and arranged so as to respectively face a plurality of the first magnets, and the first magnet and the second magnet facing each other are provided so that mutually different magnetic poles face each other. |
| US08779789B2 |
Translators coupleable to opposing surfaces of microelectronic substrates for testing, and associated systems and methods
Translators coupleable to opposing surfaces of microelectronic substrates for testing, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. An arrangement in accordance with one embodiment includes a microelectronic substrate having a first major surface, a second major face facing opposite from the first major surface, and electrically conductive through-substrate vias extending through the substrate and electrically accessible from both the first and second surfaces. The arrangement further includes a first translator releasably connected to the substrate and positioned in a first region extending outwardly from the first surface, the first translator including first electrical signal paths that access the vias from the first surface, and a second translator releasably connected to the substrate simultaneously with the first translator, the second translator being positioned in a second region extending outwardly from the second surface, the second translator including second electrical signal paths that access the vias from the second surface. |
| US08779783B1 |
Mutual capacitance sensing using a self-capacitance sensing device
Apparatuses and methods of mutual-capacitance sensing with a capacitance-sensing circuit, such as a self-capacitance sensing device (CSD). One apparatus includes an input node coupled to a capacitance sense pin to couple to a first electrode of a sense array, a transmit (TX) signal generation circuit to generate a TX signal to drive a second electrode of the sense array, logic circuitry coupled to the TX signal generation circuit and the input node. The logic circuitry is configured to selectively couple a first capacitor to the input node and a second capacitor to the input node timed with the TX signal. The apparatus further includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to receive a receive (RX) signal from the input node and to convert the RX signal into a digital value, the digital value representing a mutual capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US08779777B2 |
Dynamic compensation of aging drift in current sense resistor
A current sense resistor circuit may include a primary current sense resistor that drifts with age. A secondary current sense resistor may drift with age in substantial unison with the primary current sense resistor. A calibration resistor may not drift with age in substantial unison with the primary current sense resistor. A compensation circuit may compensate for aging drift in the resistance of the primary current sense resistor based on a comparison of the calibration resistor with the secondary current sense resistor. The secondary current sense resistor may be in parallel with the primary current sense resistor, except when the compensation circuit is comparing the calibration resistor with the secondary current sense resistor. |
| US08779776B2 |
Power supply monitoring system
A method for detecting predetermined fault conditions associated with the supply of AC electrical power to a consumer, the supply having an active conductor and a neutral conductor with the neutral conductor being connected to earth. The method comprises providing a first current detector associated with the active conductor, providing a second current detector associated with the neutral conductor; providing a voltage detector to detect voltage between the active conductor and the neutral conductor, and checking a current ratio of neutral current to active current whereby the current ratio is indicative of a predetermined fault condition. Also disclosed is a method of checking the condition of supply line active and neutral conductors in a consumer's supplied premises including determining the impedance of the active conductor and the impedance of the neutral conductor to indicate the condition of each of the active and neutral conductors. |
| US08779775B2 |
Electrical safety devices and systems for use with electrical wiring, and methods for using same
Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring an electrical flat wire. An appropriate safety device is utilized to monitor the electrical flat wire. The safety device includes a line side input configured to connect a line side power source and receive an electrical power signal from the line side power source. Additionally, the safety device includes a flat wire connection configured to connect to an electrical flat wire. The safety device further includes at least one relay configured to control the communication of the electrical power signal onto the electrical flat wire. The safety device also includes a control unit configured to test the electrical flat wire for at least one of miswires, wire faults, or abnormal conditions and, based at least in part on the results of the testing, to control the actuation of the at least one relay. |
| US08779768B2 |
NMR RF probe coil exhibiting double resonance
NMR probe coils designed to operate at two different frequencies, producing a strong and homogenous magnetic field at both the frequencies. This single coil, placed close to the sample, provides a method to optimize the NMR detection sensitivity of two different channels. In addition, the present invention describes a coil that generates a magnetic field that is parallel to the substrate of the coil as opposed to perpendicular as seen in the prior art. The present invention isolates coils from each other even when placed in close proximity to each other. A method to reduce the presence of electric field within the sample region is also considered. Further, the invention describes a method to adjust the radio-frequency tuning and coupling of the MAR probe coils. |
| US08779767B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method of controlling contrast by applying radio frequency intermediate pulse
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a data acquisition unit and an image data generating unit. The data acquisition unit acquires MR signals for imaging by an imaging scan with a frequency-selective or slice-selective radio frequency intermediate pulse for controlling a contrast and a spoiler gradient magnetic field for suppressing unnecessary signal component after applying at least one of radio frequency excitation pulses. The image data generating unit generates image data based on the magnetic resonance signals. |
| US08779763B2 |
Spintronic magnetic nanoparticle sensors with an active area located on a magnetic domain wall
A sensor is described for detecting the presence of a magnetic nanoparticle (N). The sensor is arranged on a support (1), on which a plurality of non-magnetic contacts (Iin, GND, V1, V2) electrically conductively connected to the sensor is disposed. The contacts are adapted to be connected to means for measuring magnetoresistance. The sensor includes a planar ferromagnetic nanostructure (3), comprising a detection area (31) shaped as a strip bent to form a corner. The detection area is adapted to selectively assume, as a response to an applied magnetic field, a first spin configuration comprising a transverse “head-to-head” domain wall (TW), and a second spin configuration, wherein such domain wall (TW) is absent. The transition from the first configuration to the second configuration is affected by the proximity of a magnetic nanoparticle (N) to the detection area. |
| US08779759B2 |
Sensor device for detecting the rotational position of a rotating shaft
A sensor device for detecting the rotational position of a rotating shaft, which is rotatably mounted in a housing, comprises a transducer magnet fastened to a carrier pin, which is accommodated in a recess in the end face of the shaft. |
| US08779756B2 |
Current sensor
A current sensor for detecting a first electric current flowing through a current path includes a sensor chip, a coil, a current control circuit, and an output circuit. The sensor chip includes a magnetoresistive element and is adopted to be located near the current path. The coil applies a bias magnetic field to the magnetoresistive element. The current control circuit supplies a second electric current to the coil. The second electric current periodically changes in polarity. The output circuit outputs a difference between a first voltage and a second voltage. The first voltage is generated by the magnetoresistive element, when the second electric current flowing through the coil has a positive polarity. The second voltage is generated by the magnetoresistive element, when the second electric current flowing through the coil has a negative polarity. |
| US08779753B2 |
Apparatus for employing low ohmic alloy conductors and method for simplifying current drain data retrieval
Apparatus and method for measuring current drain and reporting power consumption using current transformer with primary windings made of low ohmic alloy, enabling the use of the secondary coil to power the sensing and reporting circuits eliminating the power wasted by AC-DC power adaptors used for the current sensors. The saving is substantial as the current sensors will not drain a current when the AC outlets are disconnected from a load or when the load is switched off. The apparatus using low ohmic alloy is extended to the structuring of terminals, including power pins, power sockets and combinations to provide a low ohmic sensing elements in AC plugs, outlets, adaptors and extension cables with multi outlets, dissipating the heat from the sensing elements by the plugs and the larger metal heat dissipation. |
| US08779749B2 |
Circuit for controlling an A.C. switch
A circuit for generating a D.C. signal for controlling an A.C. switch referenced to a first potential, from a high-frequency signal referenced to a second potential, including: a first capacitive element connecting a first input terminal, intended to receive the high-frequency signal, to the cathode of a rectifying element having its anode connected to a first output terminal intended to be connected to a control terminal of the switch; and a second capacitive element connecting a second input terminal, intended to be connected to the second reference potential, to a second output terminal intended to be connected to the first reference potential, a second rectifying element connecting the cathode of the first rectifying element to the second output terminal. |
| US08779746B2 |
Methods and apparatus for constant power/current control for switch-mode power converters
In a first aspect, a control circuit is provided for use with a switch-mode power stage that provides an output voltage signal and an output current signal at an output power. The switch-mode power stage has a nominal voltage, a nominal current, a maximum current, an output power and a maximum power. The control circuit includes a voltage control loop and a current control loop, and the control circuit uses the voltage control loop to provide voltage mode control if the output current signal is greater than or equal to the nominal current and less than the maximum current, wherein the output power is substantially constant. Numerous other aspects are also provided. |
| US08779743B2 |
Control circuits and control methods for over voltage protection in power suppliers
Disclosed include a control circuit adapted for a power controller powered by an operation voltage. When the operation voltage exceeds an over-voltage reference, the power controller stops power conversion provided by a power converter. The control circuit comprises a slope detector detecting a variation slope of the operation voltage. When the variation slope exceeds a drop rate, the slope detector recovers the power conversion. When the power conversion is recovered the power controller compares the operation voltage with the over-voltage reference. |
| US08779741B2 |
DC/DC converter controlled by pulse width modulation with high efficiency for low output current
A DC voltage converter produces an output voltage (VS) at an output terminal from an energy source. The DC voltage convert includes a selector switch includes a first input coupled to the energy source, a second input coupled to a ground, and an output coupled to a first terminal of an inductor. A second terminal is coupled to the output terminal of the converter and a capacitor is coupled between the output terminal and the ground. A regulator produces a control signal as a function of a result of a comparison of the output voltage with a reference voltage. A control circuit couples the output of the selector switch to the first or second input of the selector switch, as a function of the control signal. The converter may also include a means of inhibition adapted to inhibiting the control circuit when a current flowing in the inductor gets cancelled. |
| US08779739B2 |
Integrated DC converter with improved driving stage
A DC converter is provided for converting a first supply voltage into a second supply voltage. The first supply voltage is higher than the second supply voltage. The DC converter includes a driving stage and an output stage. The driving stage includes a modulation circuit, a pull-up driving unit, a pull-up unit, a pull-down driving unit, and a pull-down unit. The modulation circuit generates a control signal according to the second supply voltage. The pull-up driving unit generates a first P-type driving signal and a second P-type driving signal to the pull-up unit according to the control signal. The pull-down driving unit generates a first N-type driving signal and a second N-type driving signal to the pull-down unit according to the control signal. |
| US08779738B2 |
Control circuit for switching regulator, switching regulator and electronic equipment using the control circuit
The invention improves the voltage regulation rate of the switching regulator in lag control. A divided output voltage divided by the first resistor and the second resistor is input to a first polarity input terminal of a comparator. A driver is used for controlling a switching transistor and a synchronous rectified transistor according to an output pulse of the comparator. A feedback circuit is used for outputting a switching signal to the reverse input terminal of the comparator according to the output pulse, wherein the switching signal is used for switching two voltage levels between the input voltage and a ground voltage. The error amplifier is used for amplifying an error between the divided output voltage and a first reference voltage and generating a second reference voltage to output to a second polarity input terminal of the comparator. |
| US08779737B2 |
Voltage converting circuit and method
A voltage converting circuit for converting an input voltage into an output voltage is disclosed. The voltage converting circuit includes a modulation signal generator, a comparator and a logic unit. The modulation signal generator is configured for generating a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal responsive to a feedback signal corresponding to the output voltage and a load coupled thereto. The comparator is configured for comparing the feedback signal with a reference signal to output a comparing signal. The logic unit is configured for performing a logical conjunction of the PWM signal and the comparing signal to generate a control signal for adjusting an input current corresponding to the input voltage to regulate the output voltage. A method for converting an input voltage into an output voltage is also disclosed herein. |
| US08779733B2 |
Bootstrap scheme for BULK-BOOST converter
A bootstrap circuit for a voltage converter includes a bootstrap capacitor, a stable current module for generating a stable output current according to a stable output voltage, a current mirror module having a first branch circuit for generating a current signal according to the stable output current, and a charge module including a cascode transistor module including a plurality of transistors serially connected and a charge resistor for generating a conduction voltage according to the current signal, and an output circuit coupled to the current mirror module and the cascode transistor module for outputting the conduction voltage to charge the bootstrap capacitor. |
| US08779732B2 |
Step-up circuit having reference voltage generator to control voltage increase in accordance with supply voltage
A step-up circuit includes a capacitor, a transistor connected to the capacitor, and a reference voltage generator circuit configured to supply the transistor with a reference voltage that causes a rate of voltage increase relative to supply voltage to vary in accordance with the supply voltage. |
| US08779731B2 |
Synthetic ripple hysteretic powder converter
A novel switching hysteretic power converter is presented. The converter includes the generation of a synthetic ripple signal and a feedback network to combine a signal in phase with the inductor current with a signal proportional to the regulated output voltage. The presented approach provides a switching boost converter with a much simpler control method with respect to conventional inductive boost power converters. The hysteretic control provides stable operation in all conditions with excellent load and line transient response. Furthermore the hysteretic control allows high frequency switching, reducing the size and cost of the passive components. The presented converter includes the Discontinuous Conduction Mode of operation to achieve very high efficiency at light loads. The presented approach can also be applied to buck switching power converters with excellent performance in terms of transient response, stability, efficiency and operation at high switching frequencies. The approach can be extended also to the hysteretic control of isolated switching flyback converters. |
| US08779728B2 |
Apparatus for preheating a battery pack before charging
A system for charging a battery pack of an electric vehicle comprises a heater for pre-heating the battery pack so that the battery pack is able to accept a charge from a charger. The battery pack is selectively de-coupled from the system during the pre-heating. When the battery pack has reached an appropriate temperature, the heater is selectively de-coupled from the system and the charger is coupled to the system to charge the battery. Advantageously, the battery pack is protected during pre-heating. |
| US08779727B2 |
Charge control device and load driving device
A charge control device includes a charge control circuit to control a charge of a secondary battery by controlling an output stage connected between a power supply and the secondary battery. The charge control circuit includes a first error amplifier to generate a first error voltage in response to a difference between a predetermined first reference voltage and a first feedback voltage. The value of the first feedback voltage is determined in accordance with a primary current supplied from the power supply to the output stage. The charge control circuit also includes a second error amplifier to generate a second error voltage in response to a difference between either one of a predetermined second reference voltage and the first error voltage, and a second feedback voltage. The value of the second feedback voltage is determined in accordance with a charge current supplied from the output stage to the secondary battery. The charge control circuit also includes a control signal generator to generate the control signal of the output stage in response to the second error voltage. |
| US08779724B2 |
Residential electric power storage system
A controller includes a data accumulation unit that obtains data of an amount of electric power consumed in a residence and accumulates the obtained data a representative pattern creation unit that creates a representative pattern based on the data accumulated in the data accumulation unit, the pattern representatively indicating how the electric power storage device varies in state of charge for its discharging period and a limit value determination unit that determines a limit value to correspond to the pattern. |
| US08779723B2 |
Battery charge/discharge control apparatus
A battery charge/discharge control apparatus for a vehicle capable of driving an electric motor by a battery is provided. Temperature of the battery is detected, temperature history distribution of the battery after start of temperature detection is calculated, and a lifetime workload of the battery is calculated on the basis of this temperature history distribution of the battery. A permissible value of a workload increase rate indicating a workload to increase per unit distance is calculated on the basis of the lifetime workload of the battery and a travel distance of the vehicle. An actual workload increase rate of the battery is compared with the permissible value of the workload increase rate. In the case where the actual workload increase rate is larger than the permissible value of the workload increase rate, an output is restricted from the output of the battery restricted in a normal driving mode if necessary by a restricted value based upon a difference between the actual workload increase rate and the permissible value of the workload increase rate. This makes it possible to carry out lifetime prolonging control for the battery more accurately by setting up an appropriate charge/discharge permissible amount in accordance with temperature change of the battery in the past. |
| US08779721B2 |
Charging system
In a charging system, an interlock switch is configured to be turned on when a power switch of a vehicle body is turned off and turned off when the power switch is turned on is disposed between a negative terminal of a battery and a second negative input portion. A first positive output portion and a second positive output portion are connected to each other with a coil of a relay circuit installed in the charger body interposed therebetween. A relay switch of the relay circuit in which on and off operations are switched by the coil is connected to the first positive output portion. |
| US08779720B2 |
Charging station for electric vehicles with network stabilization
Charging station for electric vehicles. A network stabilization is achieved by a network frequency measuring device 8 being arranged to acquire a network frequency and to detect a network frequency which deviates from a reference frequency, and a load regulating device 10 being in operational connection with the network frequency device 8 such that, upon a deviation from the reference frequency being detected in the network frequency, the load regulating device 10 regulates the electrical power emitted to an electric vehicle by the charging station 2. |
| US08779713B2 |
Door closer with dynamically adjustable latch region parameters
A door closer with dynamically adjustable latch region parameters is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention include a door closer with a control unit to intelligently control a valve to vary the operating characteristics of the door closer as needed. The control unit can repeatedly determine whether a door has reached jamb upon closing. A setting or settings for the latch region of the door can be adjusted when the door does not reach jamb. These adjustments are such that the likelihood of the door reaching jamb upon closing is increased. Jamb successes can also be monitored, so that once there have been enough successful closes, settings can be adjusted to decrease the force on the door so that the latch region parameters are constantly adjusted for changing conditions to achieve closing success with the minimum closing force necessary. |
| US08779709B2 |
Apparatus for continued operation of an electric motor during an interruption in input power
An apparatus is provided for controlling operation of an electric motor through use of an additional power storage arrangement connected across the DC busses of a motor drive and controlling the speed of the motor. The additional power storage arrangement includes an additional capacitor arrangement and a rate limiting arrangement in a series circuit relationship with one another. |
| US08779701B2 |
Control apparatus for permanent magnet motor
A sinusoidal signal is superimposed on a current command value of a q-axis (torque shaft) supplied from a host, and according to the resulting current command value, the output voltage of a power converter is controlled. For the calculation of the superimposed signal added to the current command value of the q-axis, with the use of the ripple component information of induced voltage coefficients of the d-axis and q-axis of the rotating coordinate system of a permanent magnet motor, the current command values of the d-axis and q-axis, an average value of induced voltage coefficients of the d-axis, and inductance values of the d-axis and q-axis, the sinusoidal superimposed signal is calculated and added to the above-described current command value of the q-axis. |
| US08779698B2 |
Automatic variable speed motor drive bypass
An HVAC system includes a blower motor and a variable speed motor drive. The variable speed motor drive is configured to receive line power and provide modulated power to the motor. The blower motor is configured to produce airflow in response to the modulated power. A unit controller is configured to bypass the variable speed motor drive to provide the line power directly to the blower motor in the event that a measured airflow is less than a predetermined value. |
| US08779697B2 |
RF cavity and accelerator having such an RF cavity
An RF cavity includes a chamber, a conductive wall that encloses the chamber and has an inner side and an outer side, a switch arrangement comprising a plurality of solid-state switches arranged along a circumference of the wall around the chamber, wherein the solid-state switches are connected to the conductive wall such that RF currents are induced in the conductive wall when the switch arrangement is activated, as a result of which RF power is coupled into the chamber of the RF cavity, and a shielding device located on the outer side of the conductive wall, along a circumference of the RF cavity, the shielding device configured to increase the impedance of a propagation path of RF currents along the outer side of the wall such that the RF currents coupled into the wall are suppressed on the outer side of the wall. |
| US08779696B2 |
Low cost LED driver with improved serial bus
An LED driver IC for driving external strings of LEDs comprises a prefix register and a data register connected in series with each other and with the prefix and data registers in other driver ICs. The prefix and data registers of the driver ICs are connected in a daisy chain arrangement with an interface IC. The interface IC loads data identifying a functional latch into the prefix register and data defining a functional condition into the data register of each driver IC. The data in the data register is then transferred to the functional latch to control the functional condition within the LED driver IC. |
| US08779695B2 |
Method of configuring an LED driver, LED driver, LED assembly and method of controlling an LED assembly
A method of configuring an LED driver is disclosed. The LED driver being arranged to provide a supply current to an LED fixture comprising a plurality of LEDs. The method comprises: identifying the LED fixture (LF), sending via a communication network (NTW) a configuration request to a configuration database (DB), receiving configuration data from the configuration database; and configuring the LED driver (LPS) according to the configuration data. |
| US08779694B1 |
LEDs on flexible substrate arrangement
An LED lighting arrangement on a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate has an adhesive on a first surface. Straps are attached to the first surface of the flexible substrate by the adhesive. Each strap has a first surface, a second surface, and first and second terminals exposed on the first surface. The attachment of each strap to the substrate is with the second surface of the strap adhered to the substrate. LEDs are attached to the straps and coupled to the terminals on the straps. An arrangement of one or more wires is attached to the first surface of the flexible substrate by the adhesive. The wires are connected to the first and second terminals on the first surfaces of the plurality of straps to provide power to the LEDs. |
| US08779692B2 |
Light emitting element drive device
A light emitting element drive device includes a light emitting unit that includes a light emitting element and that performs dimming based on a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, a first switching element that is turned ON or OFF based on the PWM signal and that is connected in series to the light emitting unit, and a protection circuit that includes a charging circuit and a second switching element. The second switching element is turned ON when a first voltage obtained by a charging operation of the charging circuit is equal to or more than a first predetermined value. The charging circuit discharges electric charge through the first switching element when a second voltage between input and output terminals of the first switching element drops. The first switching element is turned OFF despite the existence of the PWM signal when the second switching element is turned ON. |
| US08779690B2 |
Direct current light emitting device control circuit with dimming function and method thereof
The present invention discloses a direct current (DC) light emitting device control circuit with dimming function, and a method thereof, wherein the dimming function is provided in a feedback loop for feeding back a feedback signal from an output terminal to a power switch control circuit; the feedback signal relates to an output current supplied to the DC light emitting device. The present invention adjusts the feedback signal according to the desired brightness of the DC light emitting device. The present invention controls a power switch according to the adjusted feedback signal, such that the output current supplied to the DC light emitting device is adjusted, and accordingly the brightness of the DC light emitting device is adjusted below the full brightness. |
| US08779689B2 |
Ramp controlled driver for series/parallel solid state lighting devices
An electronic OLED driver apparatus is presented, which includes a DC-DC converter stage with a waveform generator generating converter setpoints with profiles having minimum rise time and fall time values. |
| US08779686B2 |
Synchronous regulation for LED string driver
A light emitting diode (LED) based luminaire driving arrangement constituted of: a switched driver; a plurality of LED based luminaries arranged to receive power from the switched driver; at least one electronically controlled switch in series with at least one of the plurality of LED based luminaries and arranged to alternatively pass current through the at least one LED based luminaire when closed and prevent the flow of current through the at least one LED based luminaire when opened; and at least one synchronous driver in communication with the at least one electronically controlled switch, the at least one synchronous driver arranged to close the at least one electronically controlled switch only when the switched driver is actively supplying power. |
| US08779685B2 |
High CRI white light emitting devices and drive circuitry
A high CRI white light emitting device comprises: a blue solid state light emitter (LED) operable to generate blue light; a phosphor material operable to absorb a portion of the blue light and to emit green/yellow light and a red solid state light emitter (LED) operable to generate red light. The emission product of the device comprises the combined light generated by the blue and red LEDs and green/yellow light generated by the phosphor material and appears white in color. The device further comprises a drive circuit operable to compensate for variation in the ratio (relative contribution) of red to blue light in the emission product such as to ensure that said variation is less than 20% over an operating temperature range of at least 25° C. The drive circuit can reduce variation in the CRI and CCT of the device's emission product over the operating temperature range. |
| US08779684B2 |
High gate voltage generator and display module including the same
A high gate voltage generator and a display module are provided. The high gate voltage generator includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generating circuit, a boost circuit, and an amplifier circuit. The PWM signal generating circuit is used for outputting a PWM signal. The boost circuit is electrically connected to the PWM signal generating circuit and used for receiving an input voltage to boost the input voltage according to the PWM signal and then outputting a power voltage. The amplifier circuit is electrically connected to the boost circuit and used for receiving a reference voltage to amplify the power voltage and then outputting a high gate voltage. The reference voltage is greater than the high gate voltage and is provided by a backlight module electrically connected to the amplifier circuit. |
| US08779682B2 |
Illumination driving apparatus
A fixture-compatible, dimmable illumination driving apparatus including: a rectifying unit rectifying a phase-controlled waveform of an alternating current (AC) power; a comparing unit comparing an output waveform of the rectifying unit with a first voltage according to a preset reference clock; a reference voltage generating unit generating a reference voltage corresponding to the number of high signals higher than the first voltage among outputs of the comparing unit during one cycle of the output waveform; and a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generating unit generating a PWM signal from the reference voltage and a feedback voltage. |
| US08779681B2 |
Multimode color tunable light source
Described herein are ambient lighting devices, methods, and systems that utilize at least one multimode artificial ambient light source, a control unit, and a remote image sensor. The control unit couples to at least one artificial ambient light source and is configured to output at least one control signal to the at least one artificial ambient light source. The at least one multimode artificial ambient light source is configured to output light of varying color and color temperature in response to said at least one control signal. The remote image sensor couples to the at least one control unit and is configured to detect at least one color and intensity characteristic and output an output signal to the at least one control unit, based on said color and intensity characteristic detected. |
| US08779680B2 |
Enabling simultaneous dimming and power supply operations within a dimmer assembly through a single pair of electrical wires
A device that enables “smart” dimmers comprising electronic circuits beyond those found in traditional dimmers to be installed in existing houses with no need for any new electrical wires. In particular, for smart dimmers comprising PLC (power line communication) modems, the device overcomes the large attenuation imposed on power-line communication (PLC) transmissions, introduced by a load electrically connected in series with the smart dimmer, and eliminates the large noise and ringing otherwise introduced by the switching device, found in dimmers.The device enables a fair amount of sustained current to feed a smart dimmer's internal circuitry, and low PLC signal attenuation, in conjunction with undisturbed dimming functionality, with no need for any new wires. |
| US08779679B2 |
LED lamp, illumination device including the LED lamp and current control method of the LED lamp
An LED lamp 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of input terminal parts 20a, 20c, a rectifier circuit unit 22, and an LED unit 24. And the LED lamp 20 has variable inductance units L50, L60 for causing an AC to flow from one of the pair of input terminal parts 20a, 20c to the other input terminal part through the rectifier circuit unit 22, a current detection unit 31 for detecting a magnitude of a DC flowing through the LED unit 24, and an inductance variable control unit 32 for making inductance values of the variable inductance units L50, L60 variable according to the magnitude of the DC detected by the current detection unit 31. |
| US08779678B2 |
Segmented electronic arc lamp ballast
Described herein are segmented electronic ballasts for a high power are lamp, such as a High Intensity Discharge (“HID”) lamp, capable of drop-in replacement of a pre-existing magnetic ballast and methods of use thereof. In certain aspects, the segmented electronic ballasts described herein include a first housing containing a driver circuit configured to receive electrical power from a source of electrical power and configured to output a conditioned power signal; and also include a second housing containing a striker circuit connected to the driver circuit and configured to receive the conditioned power signal and ignite the lamp. In certain aspects, the methods described herein include removing a transformer of the pre-existing magnetic ballast from a transformer mounting position; and also include fixing the first housing to the transformer mounting position. |
| US08779676B2 |
Driver circuit for dimmable solid state light source
A driver circuit for a dimmable solid state light source, and devices such as lamps and fixtures incorporating the same, and methods of driving such sources, are provided. A supply voltage circuit provides a supply voltage to a power factor controller circuit, such that the supply voltage is maintained within the high end of a nominal supply voltage operating range of the power factor controller circuit. The driver may also include an open circuit protection circuit for disabling the power factor controller circuit when an open circuit occurs in the load, and/or protection against electromagnetic interference (EMI). |
| US08779675B2 |
Controlling current flowing through LEDs in a LED lighting fixture
An alternating current (“AC”)-powered light emitting diode (“LED”) driver is described herein for driving one or more arrays of series-connected LEDs. The LED driver includes a first transistor that includes a collector-emitter path connected in series with at least one LED of an array of series-connected LEDs. The LED driver also includes a second transistor configured to selectively activate the first transistor based on a level of current through the array of series-connected LEDs. The array of series-connected LEDs has a turn-on voltage. |
| US08779672B2 |
Driver circuit for light-emitting diodes and method
Driving circuit comprises a first input, at which a first supply voltage is present, a second input, at which a second supply voltage is present, a first current supply unit selectively coupled to first or second input as function of at least one first control signal, at least one second current supply unit selectively coupled to first or second input as function of at least one second control signal, a control unit connected to first current supply unit and to at least one second current supply unit for respective control thereof and designed to provide at least one first and second control signal, and a first output coupled to first current supply unit to provide a first current for at least one first light-emitting diode, at least one second output coupled to at least one second current supply unit to provide second current for at least one second light-emitting diode. |
| US08779671B2 |
Illumination device
An illumination device includes an organic EL panel having a light emission layer provided between a first electrode and a second electrode, a power source, a power switcher, a control circuit, and a plurality of power supply portions connected to the first electrode. The control circuit controls the power switcher in such a way that, when a first power supply portion of the plurality of power supply portions is connected to the power source, a second power supply portion is not connected to the power source. The power supply portions that supply power to the first electrode are switched sequentially at a high speed. Therefore, a user will feel as if the illumination device emits light without any unevenness of brightness two-dimensionally. |
| US08779668B2 |
Alternating current light-emitting diode lamp adaptive to ambient luminance
An AC LED lamp adaptive to ambient luminance has a lamp shell, an LED lamp board, an LED driving circuit and a luminance sensor. The LED lamp board, the LED driving circuit and the luminance sensor are mounted inside the lamp shell and are electrically connected to each other. The luminance sensor is mounted on the LED lamp board, is capable of sensing light emitted from the LED lamp board. Multiple LED elements on the LED lamp board are alternately driven to turn on and turn off and a luminance signal is sensed by the luminance sensor while the LED elements are driven to turn off. As the luminance signal contains an ambient luminance only, accurate ambient luminance for the lamp can be therefore acquired. |
| US08779665B2 |
Backlight units and current control methods thereof
A backlight unit including: at least one light emitting diode (“LED”) string having an anode, which receives a string current, and a chassis-grounded cathode; and a current source control unit which receives a driving current and outputs the string current to the at least one LED string, where the current source control unit senses the driving current and compensates for the string current based on the sensed driving current and a reference voltage. |
| US08779663B2 |
Light-emitting diode and method for producing a light-emitting diode
A light-emitting diode includes at least one light-emitting diode chip, at least one control device, wherein each of the light-emitting diode chips is electrically connected to one of the at least one control devices, each of the at least one control devices including a data storage device in which brightness data for each light-emitting diode chip which is connected to the control device is stored, and the control device drives the connected light-emitting diode chip with a current which is selected according to stored brightness data for the light emitting-diode chip. |
| US08779661B2 |
Liquid cooled semi conductor
An electric light having a semiconductor mounted to a base (6). The semiconductor, preferably a LED is at least partly surrounded by a liquid container (18), which is filled with liquid such that the liquid is in thermal conducting path with the liquid and the base. The light emitted from the semiconductor passes through the liquid. An electronic ballast (16) is provided in the base between supply contacts (8) and semi conductor (2). |
| US08779650B2 |
Process for the producing of an electromechanical transducer
The present invention relates to a method for producing an electromechanical, for example piezoelectric, transducer in which a first polymer layer comprising cutouts is applied to a first continuous polymer layer by means of a printing and/or coating method, a cover is applied to the first polymer layer comprising cutouts in such a way that the cutouts of the first polymer layer comprising cutouts are closed off with the formation of cavities, and the cover is connected to the first polymer layer comprising cutouts. The invention also relates to electromechanical transducers produced by the method according to the invention, and the use of said electromechanical transducers. |
| US08779649B2 |
Ultrasonic transducer
An ultrasonic transducer includes a case having a closed end in the main axis direction, a piezoelectric element located substantially at the center of the closed end of the case, and a body arranged inside the case so as to be opposed to the piezoelectric element. The body has an irregular surface opposed to and spaced from the piezoelectric element. |
| US08779648B2 |
Ultrasonic device for cutting and coagulating with stepped output
Various embodiments are directed to an apparatus, system, and method for driving an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic transducer in a surgical instrument. The method comprises generating a first ultrasonic drive signal by a generator coupled to an ultrasonic drive system, actuating the ultrasonic transducer with the first ultrasonic drive signal, generating a second ultrasonic drive signal by the generator, and actuating the ultrasonic transducer with the second ultrasonic drive signal. The first drive signal is different from the second drive signal. The first and second drive signals define a step function waveform. The system comprises a generator coupled to an ultrasonic instrument. The ultrasonic instrument comprises an ultrasonic drive system comprising an ultrasonic transducer coupled to a waveguide and an end effector coupled to the waveguide. The ultrasonic drive system resonates at a resonant frequency. The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic drive system coupled to a generator. |
| US08779646B2 |
Actuator
The present invention relates to an actuator including a supporting portion including a first electrode, a second electrode disposed opposite the first electrode, and a part of a planar electrolyte member disposed therebetween, and having terminals configured to apply a voltage between the first and second electrodes; a displacement portion; and an intermediate portion disposed between the supporting portion and the displacement portion and including a third electrode on the electrolyte member and a conductive connecting member. The third electrode includes linear members and a conductive material. The linear members have major axes thereof extending in a direction crossing a direction from the supporting portion toward the displacement portion. The third electrode has conduction paths through which a current flows in the crossing direction. The conductive connecting member is electrically connected to one of the first and second electrodes and electrically connects the conduction paths together. |
| US08779643B2 |
Stator for electric rotating machine and method of manufacturing same
A stator includes a stator core and a stator coil comprised of a plurality of electric wires. Each of the electric wires has, at least, first, second, and third in-slot portions and first and second turn portions. The first to third in-slot portions are respectively received in three different slots of the stator core. The first turn portion is located on one axial side of the stator core outside of the slots to connect the first and second in-slot portions. The second turn portion is located on the other axial side of the stator core outside of the slots to connect the second and third in-slot portions. For each of the electric wires, the radial distances of the first to third in-slot portions from the axis of the stator core successively decrease. All of the electric wires are offset from one another in the circumferential direction of the stator core. |
| US08779638B2 |
Retaining sleeve for over molding magnets
A retaining sleeve for retaining magnets inserted therein so that the magnets may be overmolded with a polymer pursuant to the manufacture of a rotor for an electric motor. The retaining sleeve comprising a generally cylindrical portion having an inner peripheral surface concentric about a central axis and a plurality of retaining partitions extending inward from the inner peripheral surface of the generally cylindrical portion, wherein the retaining partitions are configured to at least substantially limit movement of the magnets toward the central axis upon the magnets being inserted in the retaining sleeve at their respective locations inward of the inner peripheral surface of the retaining sleeve and between retaining partitions. |
| US08779637B2 |
Magnetic actuation method
The present invention relates to a magnetic actuation method according to which a magnetized mobile (4) is directed by means of at least one magnetic element (2, 2a, 2b) placed opposite said magnetized mobile, characterized in that the preferred direction (or easy axis) of magnetization is made to turn at every point of said element by applying at least one mechanical constraint to said magnetic element(s) (2, 2, 2b), causing anisotropy within said element and thus moving the magnetized mobile in a preferred linear direction or causing the same to rotate. |
| US08779636B2 |
Linear vibrator having broadband
A linear vibrator is disclosed having a structure capable of generating a large vibratory force with a small size, outputting various types of vibrations in a wide bandwidth, and accurately coupling the magnet, the linear vibrator including: a case providing an inner space; a trembler including a yoke formed with a circular plate-shaped wing unit, a one inner lateral end-closed, cylindrical insertion unit bent from the wing unit to have a stair, an inner magnet coupled by being inserted into the insertion unit, and an external magnet coupled to one surface of the wing unit; an elastic member fixed at one end to the case and fixed at the other end to the trembler; and a stator fixed to the case to vibrate the trembler. |
| US08779632B2 |
Solar module
A solar module includes a plurality of serially connected photovoltaic solar cells and current connections configured to provide solar current generated by the photovoltaic solar cells and configured for connecting the solar module to at least one additional solar module. A mechanical switching contact is connected in parallel with the serially connected solar cells and a pressure actuator is connected to the switching contact. The pressure actuator is configured so as to open the switching contact against the action of a spring element in response to a control pressure above a predetermined threshold and so as to allow closure of the switching contact by action of the spring element in response to a control pressure below the predetermined threshold. The pressure actuator is connected to a control connection for coupling to a control pressure line. |
| US08779631B2 |
Switching circuit and test apparatus
Provided is a switching circuit with high withstand voltage. The switching circuit switches whether two terminals are electrically connected to each other, according to a switching signal input thereto. The switching circuit comprises a first switching section that switches whether the two terminals are electrically connected to each other; a first control section that is electrically insulated from the first switching section and controls the first switching section according to an input current; a second switching section that switches whether the input current is input to the first control section; and a second control section that is electrically insulated from the second switching section and controls the second switching section according to the switching signal. |
| US08779629B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting and receiving wireless energy using meta-material structures having zero refractive index
Disclosed herein is an apparatus for transmitting and receiving wireless energy using meta-material structures having a zero refractive index. The apparatus includes a wireless energy transmission unit and a wireless energy reception unit. When external power is applied thereto, the wireless energy transmission unit generates wireless energy to be wirelessly transmitted, and then wirelessly transmits wireless energy, which is normally propagated radially when the generated wireless energy is transmitted, using a magnetic resonance method while concentrating the wireless energy in one direction. |
| US08779628B2 |
Configurable power supply integrated circuit
A power integrated circuit includes, in part, a multitude of controllers, a multitude of pulse-width generators, a multitude of output stages and a configuration matrix. Each controller is adapted to be responsive to a feedback signal and a reference signal to generate a control signal carrying pulse width information. Each control signal causes a difference between an associated output voltage feedback signal and the reference signal to be less than a predefined value. Each pulse-width generator is associated with and responsive to a different one of the controllers to generate a pulse-width modulated signal in response. The configuration matrix selectively couples the plurality of pulse-width generators to the output stages. |
| US08779627B2 |
Grid tie solar system and a method
A grid tie system includes a plurality of solar panels, a plurality of inverters, wherein each of the inverters is in electrical communication with at least one of the solar panels to convert a direct current to an alternating current, wherein each of the inverters has an active state and an inactive state and at least one of the inverters includes a tracking component to track a maximum power point of at least one of the solar panels, and a controller in communication with at least one of the inverters for selectively toggling the at least one of the inverters between the active state and the inactive state. |
| US08779622B2 |
Customizable energy system and vehicle
A customizable energy system for a vehicle includes a plurality of interchangeable energy modules, wherein at least one of the plurality of interchangeable energy modules is an energy storage module configured for storing a first form of energy. The customizable energy system also includes a receptacle defining at least one cavity therein and configured for operatively communicating with the plurality of interchangeable energy modules, wherein the at least one cavity is configured for receiving any one of the plurality of interchangeable energy modules. Each of the plurality of interchangeable energy modules has a substantially similar shape and is interchangeably insertable into and removable from the at least one cavity. |
| US08779621B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication method
A communication apparatus that performs communication with a communication medium while supplying power to the communication medium includes a communication distance detection unit configured to detect a distance to the communication medium and a transmission power control unit configured to control transmission power of a transmission amplifier in accordance with the detected distance. |
| US08779619B2 |
Wind power installation and methods of using a machine frame in a wind power installation
A wind power installation includes a machine frame and a rotor shaft which extends between a rotor bearing in a front end of the machine frame and a transmission in a rear end of the machine frame. The rotor shaft is carried by a base of the machine frame to provide increased stiffness and safety in operation. The wind power installation further includes a stiffening element which stiffens the base and extends from the base over the rotor shaft to at least partly cover an upper portion of the rotor shaft. |
| US08779613B2 |
System for generation energy from ocean wave movement
The invention relates to a system for generating energy from ocean wave movement, comprising at least: one vessel (2) having at least one rotor shaft (3) that acts on an electricity generator; at least one tank (5) which is joined and solidly connected to the vessel (2) and which is full of sea water such that it remains at the water line (f); at least one float (1) joined to the vessel (2) by means of a boom (11); and mechanical means for transmitting the movement of the float (1) to the corresponding rotor shaft (3). In addition, the vessel (2) is attached to a float frame (4). A plurality of vessels (2) can be connected to a float frame (4) and/or a plurality of float frames (4) can be connected to one another. Furthermore, one or more tanks (5) can be attached to said float frames. |
| US08779610B2 |
Wind energy system
The invention relates to a wind energy system having a support (5), a rotor (6) that is rotatably supported on the support (5) about a rotor axis (7), said rotor having multiple rotor blades (9, 10) and being driven or drivable by means of wind energy (15), an electric generator (16) that is coupled to the rotor (6), said generator being drivable or driven by the rotor (6), a first converter (23) that is electrically coupled to the generator (16), said converter being coupled or capable of being coupled to an electric distribution network (27), at least one electric or partially electric auxiliary system (20), wherein the at least one auxiliary system (20) is or can be electrically coupled to the generator (16) while interconnecting a second converter (33). |
| US08779609B2 |
Time delay contactor for aircraft APU starter
A starter for an auxiliary power unit includes a direct current motor operably connectable to an auxiliary power unit. A clutch is arranged in an electrically parallel relationship and configured to operably connect the motor to the auxiliary power unit when engaged, the motor and the clutch powered by a common input line. A time delay switching element is located and configured to delay power delivery to the direct current motor thus providing for full engagement of the clutch prior to initiation of rotation of the motor. |
| US08779608B2 |
Construction machine having power generation function
A swing system of a construction machine having a power generation function is provided. The construction machine includes a lower driving structure capable of traveling, an upper swing structure mounted on an upper portion of the lower driving structure and provided with a working device, a swing ring gear fixed to the lower driving structure, a swing ring gear cover fixed to the upper swing structure and engaged with the swing ring gear to perform a rotational operation, a permanent magnet installed on one of the swing ring gear and the swing ring gear cover, and an induction coil installed on the other of the swing ring gear and the swing ring gear cover. Induction current is generated in the induction coil in accordance with the rotational operation of the swing ring gear cover. |
| US08779606B2 |
Package-on-package electronic devices including sealing layers and related methods of forming the same
A package-on-package (POP) electronic device may include first and second packaging substrates, a solder interconnection providing electrical and mechanical coupling between the first and second packaging substrates, and first and second sealing layers between the first and second packaging substrates. The first and second sealing layers may be respective first and second epoxy sealing layers. Moreover, the second epoxy sealing layer may include a solder flux agent, and the first epoxy sealing layer may have a lower concentration of the solder flux agent than the second epoxy sealing layer. |
| US08779602B2 |
Wiring board, semiconductor apparatus and method of manufacturing them
There are provided steps of providing a dielectric layer and a wiring layer on a surface of a support to form an intermediate body, removing the support from the intermediate body to obtain a wiring board, and carrying out a roughening treatment over a surface of the support before the intermediate body forming step. |
| US08779601B2 |
Embedded wafer level package for 3D and package-on-package applications, and method of manufacture
An eWLB package for 3D and PoP applications includes a redistribution layer on a support wafer. A semiconductor die is coupled to the redistribution layer, and solder balls are also positioned on the redistribution layer. The die and solder balls are encapsulated in a molding compound layer, which is planarized to expose top portions of the solder balls. A second redistribution layer is formed on the planarized surface of the molding compound layer. A ball grid array can be positioned on the second redistribution layer to couple the semiconductor package to a circuit board, or additional semiconductor dies can be added, each in a respective molding compound layer. The support wafer can act as an interposer, in which case it is processed to form TSVs in electrical contact with the first redistribution layer, and a redistribution layer is formed on the opposite side of the support substrate, as well. |
| US08779600B2 |
Interlevel dielectric stack for interconnect structures
A dielectric stack and method of depositing the stack to a substrate using a single step deposition process. The dielectric stack includes a dense layer and a porous layer of the same elemental compound with different compositional atomic percentage, density, and porosity. The stack enhances mechanical modulus strength and enhances oxidation and copper diffusion barrier properties. The dielectric stack has inorganic or hybrid inorganic-organic random three-dimensional covalent bonding throughout the network, which contain different regions of different chemical compositions such as a cap component adjacent to a low-k component of the same type of material but with higher porosity. |
| US08779599B2 |
Packages including active dies and dummy dies and methods for forming the same
A device includes a bottom chip and an active top die bonded to the bottom chip. A dummy die is attached to the bottom chip. The dummy die is electrically insulated from the bottom chip. |
| US08779598B2 |
Method and apparatuses for integrated circuit substrate manufacture
Embodiments described herein provide a method of manufacturing integrated circuit (IC) devices. The method includes coupling a first surface of a first intermediate substrate to a first surface of a second intermediate substrate, forming a first plurality of patterned metal layers on a second surface of the first intermediate substrate to form a first substrate and a second plurality of patterned metal layers on a second surface of the second intermediate substrate to form a second substrate, and separating the first and second substrates. Each of the first substrate and the second substrate is configured to facilitate electrical interconnection between a respective IC die and a respective printed circuit board (PCB). |
| US08779597B2 |
Semiconductor device with base support structure
An apparatus includes a semiconductor chip with a base support structure having a surface and an opposed surface. At least one device structure extends from the surface of the base support structure. A first conductive region is coupled to the base support structure. At least a portion of the first conductive region extends below the opposed surface. |
| US08779595B2 |
Semiconductor device having high-frequency interconnect
Provided is a semiconductor device including high-frequency interconnect and dummy conductor patterns (second dummy conductor patterns). The dummy conductor patterns are disposed in a interconnect layer different from a interconnect layer in which the high-frequency interconnect is disposed. The dummy conductor patterns are disposed so as to keep away from a region overlapping the high-frequency interconnect in plan view. The semiconductor device further includes dummy conductor patterns (first dummy conductor patterns) in the interconnect layer in which the high-frequency interconnect is disposed. |
| US08779594B2 |
Semiconductor device having multi-layered interconnect structure
Disclosed is a semiconductor device provided with an active element in a multilayer interconnect layer and decreased in a chip area. A second interconnect layer is provided over a first interconnect layer. A first interlayer insulating layer is provided in the first interconnect layer. A semiconductor layer is provided in a second interconnect layer and in contact with the first interlayer insulating layer. A gate insulating film is provided over the semiconductor layer. A gate electrode is provided over the gate insulating film. At least two first vias are provided in the first interconnect layer and in contact by way of upper ends thereof with the semiconductor layer. |
| US08779593B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device
Also in a semiconductor integrated circuit device including a copper embedded wiring as a main wiring layer, generally, the uppermost-layer wiring layer is often an aluminum-based pad layer in order to ensure wire bonding characteristics. The aluminum-based pad layer is also generally used as a wiring layer (general intercoupling wiring such as power source wiring or signal wiring). However, such a general intercoupling wiring has a relatively large wiring length. This causes a demerit for the device to be susceptible to damages during a plasma treatment due to the antenna effect, and other demerits. With the present invention, in a semiconductor integrated circuit device including a metal multilayer wiring system having a lower-layer embedded type multilayer wiring layer and an upper-layer non-embedded type aluminum-based pad metal layer, the non-embedded type aluminum-based pad metal layer substantially does not have a power supply ring wiring. |
| US08779591B2 |
Bump pad structure
A bump pad structure for a semiconductor package is disclosed. A bump pad structure includes a conductive pad disposed on an insulating layer. A ring-shaped conductive layer is embedded in the insulating layer and is substantially under and along an edge of the conductive pad. At least one conductive via plug is embedded in the insulating layer and between the conductive pad and the ring-shaped conductive layer, such that the conductive pad is electrically connected to the ring-shaped conductive layer. |
| US08779589B2 |
Liner layers for metal interconnects
Electrical interconnects for integrated circuits and methods of fabrication of interconnects are provided. Devices are provided comprising copper interconnects having metallic liner layers comprising silver and a second component, such as, lanthanum, titanium, tungsten, zirconium, antimony, or calcium. Methods include providing a substrate having a trench or via formed therein, forming a silver alloy layer, comprising silver and a second component selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, titanium, tungsten, zirconium, antimony, and calcium, onto surfaces of the feature, depositing a copper seed layer, and depositing copper into the feature. |
| US08779588B2 |
Bump structures for multi-chip packaging
The mechanisms for forming a multi-chip package described enable chips with different bump sizes being packaged to a common substrate. A chip with larger bumps can be bonded with two or more smaller bumps on a substrate. Conversely, two or more small bumps on a chip may be bonded with a large bump on a substrate. By allowing bumps with different sizes to be bonded together, chips with different bump sizes can be packaged together to form a multi-chip package. |
| US08779587B2 |
PB-free solder bumps with improved mechanical properties
An electronic device, comprising a semiconductor substrate having a first metal pad formed thereover, a device package substrate having a second metal pad formed thereover, and, a doped solder bump. The doped solder bump is located between and in contact with said first and second metal pads. The doped solder bump consisting of Sn, one or both of Ag and Cu, and a fourth row transition metal dopant in a concentration range from 0.35 wt. % to 2 wt. %. |
| US08779583B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method
A semiconductor device and manufacturing method. One embodiment provides a semiconductor chip. An encapsulating material covers the semiconductor chip. A metal layer is over the semiconductor chip and the encapsulating material. At least one of a voltage generating unit and a display unit are rigidly attached to at least one of the encapsulating material and the metal layer. |
| US08779582B2 |
Compliant heat spreader for flip chip packaging having thermally-conductive element with different metal material areas
An integrated circuit chip package is described. The integrated circuit package comprises a substrate, a chip attached to the substrate, and a heat spreader mounted over the chip for sealing the chip therein. The heat spreader includes a thermally-conductive element having a side opposed to the top of the chip for transmitting heat away from the chip to the heat spreader, and a compliant element having a first portion attached to and positioned around the periphery of the thermally-conductive element and a second portion affixed to a surface of the substrate. |
| US08779580B2 |
Electronic component package and manufacturing method thereof
An electronic component package and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The electronic component package manufacturing method, which includes mounting an electronic component in one surface of a first insulation layer; bonding a heat sink to the one surface of the first insulation layer, corresponding to the electronic component, to cover the electronic component, the heat sink being formed with a cavity; charging the cavity with an adhesive; and forming a circuit pattern in the other surface of the first insulation layer, can prevent a void from being generated in the adhesive, make the handling stable and make the size small by allowing the heat sink formed with the cavity to cover the electronic component before the pattern build-up and supplying the adhesive through one side of the cavity while providing negative pressure through the other side. |
| US08779579B2 |
Thermal dissipation in chip
A system for dissipating heat from a semiconductor board includes a first substrate including an opening formed therein, a second substrate attached to a surface of the first substrate, and a microchip positioned in the opening and bumped to the second substrate. The system further includes a heat sink directly adhered to the microchip. A method of manufacturing a heat dissipating semiconductor board includes forming an opening in a first substrate and positioning a microchip in the opening. The method further includes directly adhering the microchip to a heat sink, bonding the microchip to a second substrate and boding a surface of the first substrate to the second substrate. |
| US08779578B2 |
Multi-chip socket
A multi-chip socket includes multiple cavities. The multiple cavities include support surfaces. The support surfaces may be disposed at different heights relative to a reference plane. The different heights may be based on a height of a first component to be disposed in the first cavity and a height of a second component to be disposed in a second cavity. |
| US08779577B2 |
Semiconductor chip comprising a plurality of contact pads and a plurality of associated pad cells
A semiconductor chip includes a plurality of contact pads, which are arranged in an edge area on a surface of the semiconductor chip. In a semiconductor area of the semiconductor chip, every contact pad of the plurality of contact pads has an associated pad cell provided, which includes at least one of a driver or a receiver and is configured to drive output signals or receive input signals on its associated contact pad, if the driver or receiver is connected to the contact pad. Additionally, for a contact pad which is used as a supply contact pad, the driver or receiver of the associated pad cell is not connected to the contact pad or any other contact pad for driving output signals or receiving input signals on the same. |
| US08779575B2 |
Semiconductor device package having a semiconductor chip on wiring board connected to plurality of leads including power MOSFETs
A technology enabling reduction of the size of a semiconductor device including a micro and a power MOSFET is provided. The semiconductor device is obtained by single packaging a first semiconductor chip with a micro formed therein and second semiconductor chips with a power MOSFET formed therein. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the semiconductor device as compared with cases where a first semiconductor chip with a micro formed therein and second semiconductor chips with a power MOSFET formed therein are separately packaged. |
| US08779573B2 |
Semiconductor package having a silicon reinforcing member embedded in resin
Semiconductor chips are placed in recesses of a support carrier with electrode surfaces facing upward in a state where the semiconductor chips are arranged separately from each other. A seal resin part is formed by encapsulating the semiconductor chips by an insulating resin on said support carrier. Rewiring patterns are formed on a top surface of the seal resin part. External connection terminals are formed on the rewiring patterns. Bottom parts of the recesses of the support carrier are removed from the seal resin part while maintaining reinforcing members of the support carrier to be remained. The semiconductor packages are individualized by cutting the seal resin part along an outside of each reinforcing member. |
| US08779567B2 |
Semiconductor device
In a semiconductor device including a semiconductor element and a wiring substrate on which the semiconductor element is mounted. The wiring substrate includes an insulating substrate and conductive wiring formed in the insulating substrate and electrically connected to the semiconductor element. The conductive wiring includes an underlying layer formed on the insulating substrate, a main conductive layer formed on the underlying layer, and an electrode layer covering side surfaces of the underlying layer and side surfaces and an upper surface of the main conductive layer. The underlying layer includes an adhesion layer being formed in contact with the insulating substrate and containing an alloy of Ti. |
| US08779561B2 |
LED backlight unit without printed circuit board and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a Light Emitting Diode (LED) backlight unit without a Printed Circuit board (PCB). The LED backlight unit includes a chassis, insulating resin layer, and one or more light source modules. The insulating resin layer is formed on the chassis. The circuit patterns are formed on the insulating resin layer. The light source modules are mounted on the insulating resin layer and are electrically connected to the circuit patterns. The insulating resin layer has a thickness of 200 μm or less, and is formed by laminating solid film insulating resin on the chassis or by applying liquid insulating resin to the chassis using a molding method employing spin coating or blade coating. Furthermore, the circuit patterns are formed by filling the engraved circuit patterns of the insulating resin layer with metal material. |
| US08779554B2 |
MOSFETs with channels on nothing and methods for forming the same
A device includes a semiconductor substrate, and a channel region of a transistor over the semiconductor substrate. The channel region includes a semiconductor material. An air gap is disposed under and aligned to the channel region, with a bottom surface of the channel region exposed to the air gap. Insulation regions are disposed on opposite sides of the air gap, wherein a bottom surface of the channel region is higher than top surfaces of the insulation regions. A gate dielectric of the transistor is disposed on a top surface and sidewalls of the channel region. A gate electrode of the transistor is over the gate dielectric. |
| US08779552B2 |
Integrated circuit chip protected against laser attacks
An integrated circuit chip formed inside and on top of a semiconductor substrate and including: in the upper portion of the substrate, an active portion in which components are formed; and under the active portion and at a depth ranging between 5 and 50 μm from the upper surface of the substrate, an area comprising sites for gettering metal impurities and containing metal atoms at a concentration ranging between 1017 and 1018 atoms/cm3. |
| US08779551B2 |
Gated diode structure for eliminating RIE damage from cap removal
A semiconductor structure provided with a plurality of gated-diodes having a silicided anode (p-doped region) and cathode (n-doped region) and a high-K gate stack made of non-silicided gate material, the gated-diodes being adjacent to FETs, each of which having a silicided source, a silicided drain and a silicided HiK gate stack. The semiconductor structure eliminates a cap removal RIE in a gate first High-K metal gate flow from the region of the gated-diode. The lack of silicide and the presence of a nitride barrier on the gate of the diode are preferably made during the gate first process flow. The absence of the cap removal RIE is beneficial in that diffusions of the diode are not subjected to the cap removal RIE, which avoids damage and allows retaining its highly ideal junction characteristics. |
| US08779547B2 |
Electroplating methods for fabricating integrated circuit devices and devices fabricated thereby
Provided are methods of fabricating a semiconductor device and semiconductor devices fabricated thereby. In the methods, dummy recess regions may be formed between cell recess regions and a peripheral circuit region. Due to the presence of the dummy recess regions, it may be possible to reduce a concentration gradient of a suppressor contained in a plating solution near the dummy pattern region, to make the concentration of the suppressor more uniform in the cell pattern region, and to supply an electric current more effectively to the cell pattern region. As a result, a plating layer can be more uniformly formed in the cell pattern region, without void formation therein. |
| US08779538B2 |
Magnetic tunneling junction seed, capping, and spacer layer materials
In one embodiment, a magnetic element for a semiconductor device includes a reference layer, a free layer, and a nonmagnetic spacer layer disposed between the reference layer and the free layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer includes a binary, ternary, or multi-nary alloy oxide material. The binary, ternary, or multi-nary alloy oxide material includes MgO having one or more additional elements selected from the group consisting of: Ru, Al, Ta, Tb, Cu, V, Hf, Zr, W, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Ni, Nb, Cr, Mo, and Rh. |
| US08779534B2 |
Low-G MEMS acceleration switch
A motion-sensitive low-G MEMS acceleration switch, which is a MEMS switch that closes at low-g acceleration (e.g., sensitive to no more than 10 Gs), is proposed. Specifically, the low-G MEMS acceleration switch has a base, a sensor wafer with one or more proofmasses, an open circuit that includes two fixed electrodes, and a contact plate. During acceleration, one or more of the proofmasses move towards the base and connects the two fixed electrodes together, resulting in a closing of the circuit that detects the acceleration. Sensitivity to low-G acceleration is achieved by proper dimensioning of the proofmasses and one or more springs used to support the proofmasses in the switch. |
| US08779533B2 |
MEMS with single use valve and method of operation
In one embodiment, a method of opening a passageway to a cavity includes providing a donor portion, forming a heating element adjacent to the donor portion, forming a first sacrificial slab abutting the donor portion, wherein the donor portion and the sacrificial slab are a shrinkable pair, forming a first cavity, a portion of the first cavity bounded by the first sacrificial slab, generating heat with the heating element, forming a first reduced volume slab from the first sacrificial slab using the generated heat and the donor portion, and forming a passageway to the first cavity by forming the first reduced volume slab. |
| US08779530B2 |
Metal gate structure of a field effect transistor
The invention relates to integrated circuit fabrication, and more particularly to a Field Effect Transistor with a low resistance metal gate electrode. An exemplary structure for a gate electrode for a Field Effect Transistor comprises a lower portion formed of a first metal material having a recess and a first resistance; and an upper portion formed of a second metal material having a protrusion and a second resistance, wherein the protrusion extends into the recess, wherein the second resistance is lower than the first resistance. |
| US08779527B2 |
FinFET drive strength modification
A method and circuit in which the drive strength of a FinFET transistor can be selectively modified, and in particular can be selectively reduced, by omitting the LDD extension formation in the source and/or in the drain of the FinFET.One application of this approach is to enable differentiation of the drive strengths of transistors in an integrated circuit by applying the technique to some, but not all, of the transistors in the integrated circuit. In particular in a SRAM cell formed from FinFET transistors the application of the technique to the pass-gate transistors, which leads to a reduction of the drive strength of the pass-gate transistors relative to the drive strength of the pull-up and pull-down transistors, results in improved SRAM cell performance. |
| US08779525B2 |
Method for growing strain-inducing materials in CMOS circuits in a gate first flow
A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuit incorporating a substrate and a gate wire over the substrate. The substrate comprises an n-type field effect transistor (n-FET) region, a p-type field effect transistor (p-FET) region and an isolation region disposed between the n-FET and p-FET regions. The gate wire comprises an n-FET gate, a p-FET gate, and gate material extending transversely from the n-FET gate across the isolation region to the p-FET gate. A first conformal insulator covers the gate wire and a second conformal insulator is on the first conformal insulator positioned over the p-FET gate without extending laterally over the n-FET gate. Straining regions for producing different types of strain are formed in recess etched into the n-FET and p-FET regions of the substrate. |
| US08779520B2 |
Erasable programmable single-ploy nonvolatile memory
An erasable programmable single-poly nonvolatile memory includes a substrate structure; a floating gate transistor having a floating gate, a gate oxide layer under the floating gate, and a channel region, wherein the channel region is formed in a N-well region; and an erase gate region, wherein the floating gate is extended to and is adjacent to the erase gate region and the erase gate region comprises a n-type source/drain region connected to an erase line voltage and a P-well region. The N-well and P-well region are formed in the substrate structure. The gate oxide layer comprises a first portion above the channel region of the floating gate transistor and a second portion above the erase gate region, and a thickness of the first portion of the gate oxide layer is different from a thickness of the second portion of the gate oxide layer. |
| US08779517B2 |
FinFET-based ESD devices and methods for forming the same
A device includes a plurality of STI regions, a plurality of semiconductor strips between the STI regions and parallel to each other, and a plurality of semiconductor fins over the semiconductor strips. A gate stack is disposed over and crossing the plurality of semiconductor fins. A drain epitaxy semiconductor region is disposed on a side of the gate stack and connected to the plurality of semiconductor fins. The drain epitaxy semiconductor region includes a first portion adjoining the semiconductor fins, wherein the first portion forms a continuous region over and aligned to the plurality of semiconductor strips. The drain epitaxy semiconductor region further includes second portions farther away from the gate stack than the first portion. Each of the second portions is over and aligned to one of the semiconductor strips. The second portions are parallel to each other, and are separated from each other by a dielectric material. |
| US08779515B2 |
Semiconductor structure containing an aluminum-containing replacement gate electrode
An aluminum-containing material is employed to form replacement gate electrodes. A contact-level dielectric material layer is formed above a planarization dielectric layer in which the replacement gate electrodes are embedded. At least one contact via cavity is formed through the contact-level dielectric layer. Any portion of the replacement gate electrodes that is physically exposed at a bottom of the at least one contact via cavity is vertically recessed. Physically exposed portions of the aluminum-containing material within the replacement gate electrodes are oxidized to form dielectric aluminum compound portions. Subsequently, each of the at least one active via cavity is further extended to an underlying active region, which can be a source region or a drain region. A contact via structure formed within each of the at least one active via cavity can be electrically isolated from the replacement gate electrodes by the dielectric aluminum compound portions. |
| US08779504B2 |
Semiconductor device
A super-junction semiconductor substrate is configured in such a manner that an n-type semiconductor layer of a parallel pn structure is opposed to a boundary region between an active area and a peripheral breakdown-resistant structure area. A high-concentration region is formed at the center between p-type semiconductor layers that are located on both sides of the above n-type semiconductor layer. A region where a source electrode is in contact with a channel layer is formed over the n-type semiconductor layer. A portion where the high-concentration region is in contact with the channel layer functions as a diode. The breakdown voltage of the diode is set lower than that of the device. |
| US08779501B2 |
Diode-based flash memory device cell string and fabricating method therefor
Provided is an ultra highly-integrated flash memory cell device. The cell device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first doping semiconductor area formed on the semiconductor substrate, a second doping semiconductor area formed on the first doping semiconductor area, and a tunneling insulating layer, a charge storage node, a control insulating layer, and a control electrode which are sequentially formed on the second doping semiconductor area. The first and second doping semiconductor areas are doped with impurities of the different semiconductor types According to the present invention, it is possible to greatly improve miniaturization characteristics and performance of the cell devices in conventional NOR or NAND flash memories. Unlike conventional transistor type cell devices, the cell device according to the present invention does not have a channel and a source/drain. Therefore, in comparison with the conventional memories, the fabricating process can be simplified, and the problem such as cross-talk or read disturb can be greatly reduced. |
| US08779495B2 |
Stacked SONOS memory
An integrated circuit includes a first SONOS memory cell and a second SONOS memory cell. The second memory cell is stacked on the first memory cell. |
| US08779491B2 |
3D via capacitor with a floating conductive plate for improved reliability
The present invention provides a 3D via capacitor and a method for forming the same. The capacitor includes an insulating layer on a substrate. The insulating layer has a via having sidewalls and a bottom. A first electrode overlies the sidewalls and at least a portion of the bottom of the via. A first high-k dielectric material layer overlies the first electrode. A first conductive plate is over the first high-k dielectric material layer. A second high-k dielectric material layer overlies the first conductive plate and leaves a remaining portion of the via unfilled. A second electrode is formed in the remaining portion of the via. The first conductive plate is substantially parallel to the first electrode and is not in contact with the first and second electrodes. An array of such 3D via capacitors is also provided. |
| US08779489B2 |
Power FET with a resonant transistor gate
A semiconductor FET provides a resonant gate and source and drain electrodes, wherein the resonant gate is electromagnetically resonant at one or more predetermined frequencies. |
| US08779487B2 |
Semiconductor devices including storage node landing pads separated from bit line contact plugs
A Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) device can include a semiconductor substrate that includes an active region including a source region therein. A gate line can cross the active region and a first contact plug can be on the active region adjacent to the gate line and can be connected to the source region. A conductive layer can be on the first contact plug to expose a portion of the first contact plug and a capacitor storage node electrode can be on the conductive layer. |
| US08779486B2 |
Ferroelectric capacitor
A ferroelectric capacitor includes a ferroelectric film, a lower electrode in contact with one surface of the ferroelectric film, and an upper electrode in contact with the other surface of the ferroelectric film. At least one of the upper electrode and the lower electrode has a stacked electrode structure in which one or more oxide conductive layers and one or more metal layers are stacked alternately, and the stacked electrode structure includes at least one of two or more oxide conductive layers and two or more metal layers. |
| US08779483B2 |
Spectrally tuned plasmonic light collectors
Electronic devices may be provided with imaging modules that include plasmonic light collectors. Plasmonic light collectors may be configured to exploit an interaction between incoming light and plasmons in the plasmonic light collector to alter the path of the incoming light. Plasmonic light collectors may include one or more spectrally tuned plasmonic image pixels configured to preferentially trap light of a given frequency. Spectrally tuned plasmonic image pixels may include plasmonic structures formed form a patterned metal layer over doped silicon layers. Doped silicon layers may be interposed between plasmonic structures and a reflective layer. Plasmonic image pixels may be used to absorb and detect as much as, or more than, ninety percent of incident light at wavelengths ranging from the infrared to the ultraviolet. Plasmonic image pixels that capture light of different colors may be arranged in patterned arrays to form imager modules or imaging spectrometers for optofluidic microscopes. |
| US08779479B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
An object is to provide a semiconductor device with a novel structure. A semiconductor device includes a first transistor, which includes a channel formation region provided in a substrate including a semiconductor material, impurity regions, a first gate insulating layer, a first gate electrode, and a first source electrode and a first drain electrode, and a second transistor, which includes an oxide semiconductor layer over the substrate including the semiconductor material, a second source electrode and a second drain electrode, a second gate insulating layer, and a second gate electrode. The second source electrode and the second drain electrode include an oxide region formed by oxidizing a side surface thereof, and at least one of the first gate electrode, the first source electrode, and the first drain electrode is electrically connected to at least one of the second gate electrode, the second source electrode, and the second drain electrode. |
| US08779478B2 |
Thin film transistor
A TFT 20 includes a gate electrode 21, a gate insulating film 22, a semiconductor layer 23, a source electrode 24, a drain electrode 25, etc. The semiconductor layer 23 is comprised of a metal oxide semiconductor (IGZO), and has a source portion 23a that contacts the source electrode 24, a drain electrode 23b that contacts the drain electrode 25, and a channel portion 23c that is located between the source and drain portions 23a, 23b. A reduced region 30 is formed at least in the channel portion 23c of the semiconductor layer 23, and the reduced region 30 has a higher content of a simple substance of a metal such as In than the remaining portion of the semiconductor layer 23. |
| US08779477B2 |
Enhanced dislocation stress transistor
A device is provided. The device includes a transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate, the transistor having a conduction channel. The device includes at least one edge dislocation formed adjacent to the conduction channel on the semiconductor substrate. The device also includes at least one free surface introduced above the conduction channel and the at least one edge dislocation. |
| US08779476B2 |
Asymmetric wedge JFET, related method and design structure
A junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET) for an integrated circuit (IC) chip is provided comprising a source region, a drain region, a lower gate, and a channel, with an insulating shallow trench isolation (STI) region extending from an inner edge of an upper surface of the source region to an inner edge of an upper surface of the drain region, without an intentionally doped region, e.g., an upper gate, coplanar with an upper surface of the IC chip between the source/drain regions. In addition, an asymmetrical quasi-buried upper gate can be included, disposed under a portion of the STI region, but not extending under a portion of the STI region proximate to the drain region. Embodiments of this invention also include providing an implantation layer, under the source region, to reduce Ron. A related method and design structure are also disclosed. |
| US08779474B2 |
Electric device comprising phase change material
The electric device (1, 100) has a body (2, 101) with a resistor (7, 250) comprising a phase change material being changeable between a first phase and a second phase. The resistor (7, 250) has an electric resistance which depends on whether the phase change material is in the first phase or the second phase. The resistor (7, 250) is able to conduct a current for enabling a transition from the first phase to the second phase. The phase change material is a fast growth material which may be a composition of formula Sb1−cMc with c satisfying 0.05≦c≦0.61, and M being one or more elements selected from the group of Ge, In, Ag, Ga, Te, Zn and Sn, or a composition of formula SbaTebX100−(a+b) with a, b and 100−(a+b) denoting atomic percentages satisfying 1≦a/b≦8 and 4≦100−(a+b)≦22, and X being one or more elements selected from Ge, In, Ag, Ga and Zn. |
| US08779473B2 |
SiGe HBT device and manufacturing method of the same
A silicon-germanium (SiGe) heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) device that includes a substrate; a buried oxide layer near a bottom of the substrate; a collector region above and in contact with the buried oxide layer; a field oxide region on each side of the collector region; a pseudo buried layer under each field oxide region and in contact with the collector region; and a through region under and in contact with the buried oxide layer. A method for manufacturing a SiGe HBT device is also disclosed. The SiGe HBT device can isolate noise from the bottom portion of the substrate and hence can improve the intrinsic noise performance of the device at high frequencies. |
| US08779467B2 |
Light emitting device having a terminal portion
To provide a light emitting device high in reliability with a pixel portion having high definition with a large screen. According to a light emitting device of the present invention, on an insulator (24) provided between pixel electrodes. an auxiliary electrode (21) made of a metal film is formed, whereby a conductive layer (20) made of a transparent conductive film in contact with the auxiliary electrode can be made low in resistance and thin. Also, the auxiliary electrode (21) is used to achieve connection with an electrode on a lower layer, whereby the electrode can be led out with the transparent conductive film formed on an EL layer. Further, a protective film (32) made of a film containing hydrogen and a silicon nitride film which are laminated is formed, whereby high reliability can be achieved. |
| US08779465B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming a semiconductor device
A semiconductor device arrangement comprises a semiconductor device and an injector device. The semiconductor device comprises a first current electrode region of a first conductivity type, a second current electrode region of the first conductivity type, a drift region between the first and the second current electrode regions, and at least one floating region of a second conductivity type formed in the drift region. The injector device is arranged to receive an activation signal when the semiconductor device is turned on and to inject charge carriers of the second conductivity type into the drift region and the at least one floating region in response to receiving the activation signal. |
| US08779463B2 |
Sapphire substrate and nitride semiconductor light emitting device
A sapphire substrate having one principal surface on which a nitride semiconductor is grown, said one principal surface having a plurality of projections. Each of the projections has a generally pyramidal shape with a not truncated, more sharpened tip and with an inclined surface composed of a crystal growth-suppression surface that lessens or suppresses the growth of the nitride semiconductor and also which has an inclination change line at which an inclination angle discontinuously varies. |
| US08779460B2 |
Light source unit
An embodiment discloses a light source unit including a first terminal, a first semiconductor layer supporting the first terminal, a second semiconductor layer surrounding the first terminal, and a second terminal electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer and not surrounding the first terminal. |
| US08779458B2 |
Light emitting diode
A light emitting diode includes a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, a second semiconductor layer, an upper electrode, and a lower electrode. The active layer is sandwiched between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. The lower electrode is electrical connected with the first semiconductor layer, and the upper electrode is electrical connected with the second semiconductor layer. A surface of the second semiconductor layer away from the active layer is used as the light extraction surface. A surface of the first semiconductor layer connected with the lower electrode is a patterned surface comprising a plurality of grooves. |
| US08779453B2 |
Light-emitting element and display device using same
A light-emitting element that has an improved light-extraction efficiency and an improved color purity of an emitted light. A light-emitting element includes a reflective electrode, a transparent electrode, a light-emitting layer, a functional layer, and a color filter. An optical film thickness of the functional layer is from approximately 218 nm to approximately 238 nm for a light emitting element that emits a blue light. An optical film thickness of the functional layer is from approximately 384 nm to approximately 400 nm for a light emitting element that emits a red light. |
| US08779452B2 |
Chip package
An embodiment of the invention provides a chip package which includes: a substrate having a first surface and a second surface; an optoelectronic device disposed at the first surface; a protection layer disposed on the second surface of the substrate, wherein the protection layer has an opening; a conducting bump disposed on the second surface of the substrate and filled in the opening; a conducting layer disposed between the protection layer and the substrate, wherein the conducting layer electrically connects the optoelectronic device to the conducting bump; and a light shielding layer disposed on the protection layer, wherein the light shielding layer does not contact with the conducting bump. |
| US08779449B2 |
Light-emitting diode (LED) array
An LED array having N light-emitting diode units (N≧3) comprises a permanent substrate, a bonding layer on the permanent substrate, a second conductive layer on the bonding layer, a second isolation layer on the second conductive layer, a crossover metal layer on the second isolation layer, a first isolation layer on the crossover metal layer, a conductive connecting layer on the first isolation layer, an epitaxial structure on the conductive connecting layer, and a first electrode layer on the epitaxial structure. The light-emitting diode units are electrically connected with each other by the crossover metal layer. |
| US08779447B2 |
Semiconductor light-emitting device with a protection layer
The present application discloses a semiconductor light-emitting device with a protection layer. The structure includes a heat dispersion substrate, a first connecting layer on the heat dispersion substrate, a protection layer on the first connecting layer, a second connecting layer on the protection layer, and a light-emitting unit on the second connecting layer. The protection layer is highly insulative and can avoid the current leakage forming between the light-emitting unit and the heat dispersion substrate. |
| US08779446B2 |
Light emitting device package and light emitting system
A light emitting device package according to the embodiment includes a body having a cavity; at least one light emitting device in the cavity; a resin member filled in the cavity while covering the light emitting device; and a fluorescence sheet coupled with a top surface of the body such that the fluorescence sheet is physically separable from the top surface of the body, and including a fluorescence material for converting light emitted from the light emitting device into another light. |
| US08779442B2 |
LED module
An LED module comprises an LED and a lens matching with the LED. The lens comprises a light-guiding portion and a plurality of retaining portions protruded from the light-guiding portion. The LED includes a substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode mounted on the substrate. A plurality of through holes is defined in the first electrode and a second electrode, respectively. Each retaining portion includes a rugged portion. The retaining portions are inserted into the through holes correspondingly, and the rugged portion abuts the substrate. Glue is applied between the rugged portion and the substrate. |
| US08779439B2 |
Silicon carbide Schottky-barrier diode device and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a silicon carbide Schottky-barrier diode device and a method for manufacturing the same. The silicon carbide Schottky bather diode device includes a primary n− epitaxial layer, an n+ epitaxial region, and a Schottky metal layer. The primary n− epitaxial layer is deposited on an n+ substrate joined with an ohmic metal layer at an undersurface thereof. The n+ epitaxial region is formed by implanting n+ ions into a central region of the primary n− epitaxial layer. The Schottky metal layer is deposited on the n+ epitaxial layer. |
| US08779437B2 |
Wafer, crystal growth method, and semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a wafer includes a substrate, a base layer, a foundation layer, an intermediate layer and a functional unit. The substrate has a major surface. The base layer is provided on the major surface and includes a silicon compound. The foundation layer is provided on the base layer and includes GaN. The intermediate layer is provided on the foundation layer and includes a layer including AlN. The functional unit is provided on the intermediate layer and includes a nitride semiconductor. The foundation layer has a first region on a side of the base layer, and a second region on a side of the intermediate layer. A concentration of silicon atoms in the first region is higher than a concentration of silicon atoms in the second region. The foundation layer has a plurality of voids provided in the first region. |
| US08779436B2 |
Display panel
A display device includes a plurality of pixel units. Each of the pixel units at least includes three sub-pixels for displaying different colors. The three sub-pixels are electrically connected to three different gate lines, and at least two of the three sub-pixels are electrically connected to the same data line. |
| US08779433B2 |
Semiconductor device
It is an object to provide a semiconductor device with a novel structure in which stored data can be held even when power is not supplied and there is no limitation on the number of writings. A semiconductor device includes a second transistor and a capacitor provided over a first transistor. A source electrode of the second transistor which is in contact with a gate electrode of the first transistor is formed using a material having etching selectivity with respect to the gate electrode. By forming the source electrode of the second transistor using a material having etching selectivity with respect to the gate electrode of the first transistor, a margin in layout can be reduced, so that the degree of integration of the semiconductor device can be increased. |
| US08779432B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A conventional DRAM needs to be refreshed at an interval of several tens of milliseconds to hold data, which results in large power consumption. In addition, a transistor therein is frequently turned on and off; thus, deterioration of the transistor is also a problem. These problems become significant as the memory capacity increases and transistor miniaturization advances. A transistor is provided which includes an oxide semiconductor and has a trench structure including a trench for a gate electrode and a trench for element isolation. Even when the distance between a source electrode and a drain electrode is decreased, the occurrence of a short-channel effect can be suppressed by setting the depth of the trench for the gate electrode as appropriate. |
| US08779425B2 |
Light emitting device, light emitting device package, and lighting system including the same
A light emitting device, a light emitting device package, and a lighting system are provided. The light emitting device includes a first conductive type semiconductor layer, a second conductive type semiconductor layer, and an active layer between the first and second conductive type semiconductor layers. The active layer includes a first active layer adjacent to the second conductive type semiconductor layer, a second active layer adjacent to the first conductive type semiconductor layer, and a gate quantum barrier between the first and second active layers. |
| US08779423B2 |
Semiconductor structures and fabrication methods including trench filling
A method is provided for fabricating a semiconductor structure. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming an epitaxial layer on a top surface of the semiconductor substrate and having a predetermined thickness, and forming a plurality of trenches in the epitaxial layer. The trenches are formed in the epitaxial layer and have a predetermined depth, top width, and bottom width. Further, the method includes performing a first trench filling process to form a semiconductor layer inside of the trenches using a mixture gas containing at least silicon source gas and halogenoid gas, stopping the first trench filling process when at least one trench is not completely filled, and performing a second trench filling process, different from the first trench filling process, to fill the plurality of trenches completely. |
| US08779414B2 |
Collapsable gate for deposited nanostructures
A disposable material layer is first deposited on a graphene layer or a carbon nanotube (CNT). The disposable material layer includes a material that is less inert than graphene or CNT so that a contiguous dielectric material layer can be deposited at a target dielectric thickness without pinholes therein. A gate stack is formed by patterning the contiguous dielectric material layer and a gate conductor layer deposited thereupon. The disposable material layer shields and protects the graphene layer or the CNT during formation of the gate stack. The disposable material layer is then removed by a selective etch, releasing a free-standing gate structure. The free-standing gate structure is collapsed onto the graphene layer or the CNT below at the end of the selective etch so that the bottom surface of the contiguous dielectric material layer contacts an upper surface of the graphene layer or the CNT. |
| US08779408B2 |
Phase change memory cell structure
A memory cell described herein includes a memory element comprising programmable resistance memory material overlying a conductive contact. An insulator element includes a pipe shaped portion extending from the conductive contact into the memory element, the pipe shaped portion having proximal and distal ends and an inside surface defining an interior, the proximal end adjacent the conductive contact. A bottom electrode contacts the conductive contact and extends upwardly within the interior from the proximal end to the distal end, the bottom electrode having a top surface contacting the memory element adjacent the distal end at a first contact surface. A top electrode is separated from the distal end of the pipe shaped portion by the memory element and contacts the memory element at a second contact surface, the second contact surface having a surface area greater than that of the first contact surface. |
| US08779404B2 |
Electro-hydrodynamic wind energy system
A system for electro-hydrodynamically extracting energy from wind includes an upstream collector that is biased at an electric potential and induces an electric field. An injector introduces a particle into the electric field. The wind drag on the particle is at least partially opposed by a force of the electric field on the particle. A sensor monitors an ambient atmospheric condition, and a controller changes a parameter of the injector in response to a change in the atmospheric condition. |
| US08779403B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating extreme ultra violet radiation
An apparatus and a method for generating extreme ultra violet radiation are provided. The apparatus for generating extreme ultra violet radiation includes a light source, a first reflecting mirror on which source light emitted from the light source is incident, a second reflecting mirror on which first reflected light reflected by the first reflecting mirror is incident, a focus mirror on which second reflected light reflected by the second reflecting mirror is incident, the focus mirror reflecting third reflected light back to the second reflecting mirror, and a gas cell on which fourth reflected light reflected by the second reflecting mirror is incident. |
| US08779399B2 |
Electrostatic deflector, lithography apparatus, and method of manufacturing device
The present invention provides an electrostatic deflector which deflects a plurality of charged particle beams, the deflector comprising a first electrode member including a plurality of first electrode pairs arranged along a first axis direction in an oblique coordinate system, and a second electrode member including a plurality of second electrode pairs arranged along a second axis direction in the oblique coordinate system, wherein each of the plurality of charged particle beams is deflected by a corresponding first electrode pair of the plurality of first electrode pairs, and a corresponding second electrode pair of the plurality of second electrode pairs. |
| US08779398B2 |
Compact, interleaved radiation sources
Compact, dual energy radiation scanning systems are described comprising two particle beam accelerators, each configured to accelerate charged particles to different energies, positioned parallel to a direction of movement of an object to be inspected. The accelerator may be positioned perpendicular to a plane of the conveying system, instead. Bend magnet systems bend each charged particle beam toward a respective target. Alternatively, a single dual energy accelerator capable of accelerating charged particles to at least two different energies is positioned parallel to the direction of movement of the object, or perpendicular to a plane of the conveying system. A single bend magnet system is provided to bend each accelerated charged particle beam toward the same target. The particle beams may be bent through an orbit chamber. Two separate passages may be defined through at least part of the orbit chamber, one for charged particles having each energy. |
| US08779394B2 |
Charged particle beam writing apparatus and charged particle beam writing method
A charged particle beam writing apparatus includes a division/distribution processing unit to divide and distribute processed data into data groups each having an approximately equal data amount respectively, transmitting units to transmit the processed data of the groups such that processed data is transmitted in descending order with respect to order of writing processing for each data group and the groups are transmitted in parallel, memories to store the processed data of the groups such that each of the memories stores processed data of each different one of the groups, a writing order data output unit to output them, regardless of data group and in order of writing processing, and a writing unit to write a pattern on a target workpiece with a charged particle beam, based on the processed data output in the order of writing processing. |
| US08779390B2 |
Auto-synchronous fluorescence detection method and apparatus
An apparatus for time-gated fluorescence or luminescence detection includes gating means (206) arranged to alternately permit light from an excitation source (242) to be directed to a sample (235) along a first communication path (231, 232), and then permit light emitted from the sample to be directed to a detector (246) along a second communication path (237, 238) while blocking the first communication path (231, 232): The gating means (206) may comprise a single chopper wheel or apertured disc, or a rotating or oscillating arm, and may further comprise one or more reflective facets (207). The gating means (206) may be driven via a magnetic rotor, with a ferrite bead placed to offset rotor magnets with respect to drive coils, when at rest, so as to assist with self starting. |
| US08779389B2 |
Detection method based on whispering gallery modes in microspheres floating in a solution under test
The detection method can include: exciting at least one fluorescent microsphere floating in said solution under test by exposing it to excitation light; measuring a fluorescence spectrum of said at least one fluorescent microsphere, said fluorescence spectrum comprising multiple whispering gallery modes; obtaining a set of predetermined fluorescence spectra corresponding to those of microspheres having varying external refractive index and varying radius, identifying a matching fluorescence spectrum of the set which more closely matches the measured fluorescence spectrum; comparing the matching fluorescence spectrum of the set to the measured fluorescence spectrum. |
| US08779386B2 |
Assembly and method for disinfecting lumens of devices
The invention relates to an assembly for disinfecting/sterilizing surfaces and lumens of a device with a light source which emits disinfecting/sterilizing light. The assembly comprises a device (9) for transporting fluid having a lumen and a connector part (10), at least one light source (100) configured to emit light having disinfecting/sterilizing effect, and a separate unit (8); where the light source (100) comprises: a housing (1) comprising a light emitting unit (11) emitting light having disinfecting/sterilizing effect and a connector part (5). The separate unit (8) comprises: an optical window (4) being transparent for light emitted from the light emitting unit (11), a first coupling part and a second coupling part, where the first coupling part during use is attached to the connector part (5) of the light source (100), and the second coupling part during use is attached to the connector part (10) of the device, such that the device (9) are in complete extension of the light source (100) with no overlap, and the first coupling part is located at one side of the optical window (4) and the second coupling part is located on the other side of the optical window (4), when disinfection/sterilization of the device takes place. |
| US08779385B2 |
Method and device for ultraviolet light sterilizing
In accordance with the present invention, a device and method is provided for covering and sterilizing a stethoscope or other medical instrument for safer use. The device comprises a closed housing for shielding the object to be sterilized, a means for receiving the object, a power supply, an ultraviolet light source within the housing, and a switch for controlling that lamp. |
| US08779381B2 |
Aperture unit for a particle beam device
An aperture unit for a particle beam device, in particular an electron beam device, is disclosed. Deposit supporting units are arranged at the aperture unit, with which deposit supporting units contaminations can be bound in such a way that the contaminations can no longer deposit at an aperture opening of the aperture unit. Coatings which can be arranged on the aperture unit make it possible to reduce interactions which cause contaminations to deposit at the aperture opening. |
| US08779379B2 |
Acquisition method of charged particle beam deflection shape error and charged particle beam writing method
An acquisition method of a charged particle beam deflection shape error includes writing a plurality of figure patterns, each smaller than a deflection region of a plurality of deflection regions, with charged particle beams, at a pitch different from an arrangement pitch of the plurality of deflection regions to be deflected by a deflector that deflects the charged particle beams, synthesizing writing positions of the plurality of figure patterns into one virtual deflection region of the same size as the deflection region, based on a positional relationship between the deflection region including a position where a figure pattern concerned of the plurality of figure patterns has been written and the position where the figure pattern concerned has been written, and calculating, to output, a shape error in the case of writing a pattern in the deflection region, using a synthesized writing position of each of the plurality of figure patterns. |
| US08779375B2 |
Device and method for monitoring a hadron beam
The present invention relates to a device for dosimetry monitoring of a hadron beam, comprising successive ionization chambers obtained by a series of parallel detector plates separated from each other by a gas filled gap, each detector plate having a collecting part comprising a collecting side insulated from a bias voltage part comprising a bias voltage side and arranged in such a way that the collecting side is facing the bias voltage side of a subsequent detector plate, the resulting assembly of these detector plates forming a plurality of ionization chamber cells, the thicknesses and the choice of the materials of each layer constituting each detector plate as well as the gap of an ionization chamber cell have been selected in order to satisfy the condition that the water equivalent thickness of cell is equal to the length of said cell. |
| US08779373B2 |
Radiation detection apparatus, radiation detection system and method of manufacturing radiation detection apparatus
A radiation detection apparatus includes a scintillator panel having a scintillator layer which converts radiation into light and a scintillator protective layer which protects the scintillator layer, and a sensor panel having a sensor array in which a plurality of photoelectric converters which detect light from the scintillator layer are arranged and a sensor protective layer which protects the sensor array. The scintillator panel is bonded to the sensor panel by making the scintillator layer adhere to the sensor protective layer by using the scintillator protective layer as an adhesive material. A principal component of the scintillator protective layer is the same as a principal component of the sensor protective layer. |
| US08779371B2 |
Scintillator, method for manufacturing scintillator, and radiation detector
A radiation detector is provided with a scintillator 2A containing a plurality of modified regions 21 and a plurality of photodetectors or a position-sensitive photodetector optically coupled to a surface of the scintillator 2A. The plurality of modified regions 21 are formed by irradiating an inside of a crystalline lump which will act as the scintillator 2A with a laser beam and three-dimensionally dotted and have a refractive index different from a refractive index of a surrounding region within the inside of the scintillator 2A. |
| US08779366B2 |
Pixelated scintillator array
A radiation detector module for use in nuclear medical imagers employing radiation transmission or radiopharmaceuticals includes a rigid, optically opaque grid defined around a plurality of scintillator crystals. The grid defines a plurality of cells in which each scintillator crystal is completely disposed within in such a manner that an air layer exists between the scintillator crystal and the walls of the grid. A plurality of photoelectric detectors, each of which is associated with a corresponding scintillator crystal, are optically coupled to corresponding scintillator crystals by an optical coupling layer disposed within the cell. |
| US08779364B2 |
Scintillator panel, radiation detection apparatus, and method of manufacturing them
A method of manufacturing a scintillator panel including a scintillator layer which converts a radiation into light, includes a growing step of growing a scintillator including a plurality of columnar crystals on a first substrate; a fixing step of fixing a second substrate to a surface of the scintillator that is opposite to a surface on a side of the first substrate; a separation step of separating the first substrate from the scintillator; and a removal step of removing, from the scintillator, a portion of a predetermined thickness from an exposed surface of the scintillator that is exposed in the separation step, to form the scintillator layer. |
| US08779357B1 |
Multiple image metrology
Metrology is performed using multiple registered images derived from one or more charged particle beams. Measurements combine features from one image that may not be visible in a second image to determine relationships that cannot be determined from a single image. In one embodiment, measurements use features from different element maps to determine a relationship between features, such as a distance or angle between two features in the first image at a location determined by a distance from a feature on the second image. |
| US08779354B2 |
Mass spectrometer
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an Electron Transfer Dissociation cell. Positive analyte ions are fragmented into fragment ions upon colliding with singly charged negative reagent ions with the cell. The cell comprises a plurality of ring electrodes which form a spherical trapping volume. Ions experience negligible RF heating over the majority of the trapping volume which enables the kinetic energy of the analyte and reagent ions to be reduced to just above thermal temperatures. An Electron Transfer Dissociation cell having an enhanced sensitivity is thereby provided. Fragment ions created within the cell may be cooled and may be transmitted onwardly to an orthogonal acceleration Time of Flight mass analyser enabling a significant improvement in the resolution of the mass analyser to be obtained. |
| US08779348B2 |
Semiconductor device comprising photodiode and transistor circuit
Objects are to suppress reduction in current output from a photoelectric conversion device and to prevent ESD from occurring in the photoelectric conversion device without greatly increasing the number of steps for manufacturing the photoelectric conversion device. The photoelectric conversion device includes a photodiode generating current by light irradiation; an amplifier circuit including at least one MOS transistor for amplifying the current; and at least one diode which is connected in series with the photodiode in a path of the current generated in the photodiode or a path of the current amplified by at least one MOS transistor so that a bias direction of the diode is opposite to that of the photodiode. Each of the photodiode and the diode includes a stack of a plurality of semiconductor films. |
| US08779342B2 |
Compact digital pixel for a focal plane array
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a focal plane array is provided. The focal plane array may comprise a plurality of pixels. Each pixel may include one or more capacitors operable to collect charge corresponding to an amount of light received at the respective pixel. Each pixel may further include a present state register operable to store a present state value of the respective pixel. The present state value indicates an amount of charge collected by the one or more capacitors of the respective pixel. The focal plane array may further include a logic circuit coupled to each present state register of the plurality of pixels. The logic circuit is operable to compute a next state value of each pixel based on the present state value of the respective pixel. The logic circuit may be time shared by the pixels. |
| US08779340B2 |
Lighting fixture control systems and methods
A lighting fixture system for fluorescent lamps includes one or more fluorescent lamps and one or more ballasts configured to provide controlled power to the one or more fluorescent lamps. The lighting fixture further includes a controller wired to the fluorescent lighting fixture. The controller includes one or more relays configured to turn power provided to the one or more ballasts on and off such that the one or more fluorescent lamps turn on and off with the switching of the one or more relays. The controller further includes a logic circuit configured to control the switching of the one or more relays, wherein the logic circuit is configured to log usage information for the fluorescent lighting fixture in memory. The controller yet further includes communications electronics configured to output the logged usage information. |
| US08779339B2 |
Microwave heating method and microwave heating apparatus
A microwave heating apparatus (101) includes a burning chamber (103) in which an object (102) to be burned is placed, a magnetron (116) for applying microwaves into the heating apparatus, a cooling gas introducing mechanism (112b) for introducing a cooling gas from outside the heating apparatus into the heating apparatus, a cooling gas channel (113b) through which the cooling gas flows to the burning chamber (103), heat-generating members (114a to 114e) for self-heating with microwaves applied thereto to heat the cooling gas flowing through the cooling gas channel (113b) and a control section (117) for, when the burning chamber (103) having the object (102) to be burned placed therein is cooled, causing the cooling gas introducing mechanism (112b) to introduce the cooling gas into the heating apparatus, and causing the magnetron (116) to intermittently apply microwaves into the heating apparatus. |
| US08779338B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a cooking device, in particular an induction hob
The present invention relates to a method for controlling a cooking device, in particular an induction hob. The method comprises the steps of activating an overload power (POVER) for at least one electric or electronic component of the cooking device by using at least two synchronized generators, which overload power (POVER) is greater than a standard maximum power (PMAX), deactivating the overload power (POVER) after a predetermined period (Δt), and operating the cooking device at a power (P), which is at most the standard maximum power (PMAX). The standard maximum power (PMAX) is provided for a permanent operation of the cooking device. The overload power (POVER) and/or the period (Δt) are determined by a function depending on at least the overload power (POVER) and the period (Δt). The present invention relates further to a corresponding apparatus for controlling a cooking device, in particular an induction hob. |
| US08779331B2 |
Autonomous heated interlining
A autonomous heated interlining including embedded prismatic power cells, microcontroller with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity and wireless inductive charging. The interlining offers a complete and simple integrated heating solution for any structured lined jacket, with wireless control and charging. The interlining heating system offers both primary and secondary heating channels for the inbuilt redundancy feature. The autonomous heated interlining offers digital monitoring and wireless control with automatic heating redundancy management in case of primary or secondary heating channel failures, thus always ensuring heating output for the wearer. The wearer operates the autonomous heated interlining from his/her mobile telephone, tablet/iPad® or laptop/pc with a web browser or simple dedicated application wirelessly. |
| US08779330B2 |
Vehicle heater control apparatus
A vehicle heater control apparatus variably controls electric power to be supplied to a heater with an inexpensive configuration and simple control. The vehicle heater control apparatus is provided in a vehicle including an engine control system, the engine control system including: an intake air temperature sensor for detecting an intake air temperature; and a speed sensor for detecting a traveling state of the vehicle, the engine control system using the intake air temperature and the traveling state to control drive of the engine, and the vehicle heater control apparatus includes a heater control portion for variably controlling electric power to be supplied to a warmer provided to a heated part of the vehicle based on the intake air temperature and the traveling state. |
| US08779329B2 |
Remote welding system and method
Embodiments of a pendant associated with a multi-process welding power supply that allows a user to switch processes and reverse an output polarity while located remotely from a power supply unit are provided. Certain embodiments include a pendant with a wire spool and wire feeder drive circuitry that is configured to activate spooling during MIG welding. Control circuitry that may include processing circuitry and memory is provided. The control system may disable redundant controls on the power supply unit user interface when the power supply unit is connected to the pendant via a supply cable. Additionally, the control system may set the process, set the polarity, enable or disable a wire feed, and enable or disable gas flow according to inputs received via a user interface on either the power supply unit or the pendant. |
| US08779326B2 |
Method and apparatus for laser beam alignment for solar panel scribing
A device for accurately positioning laser scribed lines in a thin top layer of material with respect to lines already scribed in lower layers for the purpose of making solar panels. An alignment detector system is attached to and displaced from an optics unit that generates laser beams by a distance such that the detector measures the position of scribed lines in the lower layers in the area of the panel that will be scribed at a subsequent time. A motion and control system moves the panel such that the detector follows the path of one or more of the lines scribed in one of the lower layers and measures the position of the lines. The system accepts data from the alignment detector and uses the data to correct the relative position of the optics unit. |
| US08779324B2 |
Welding-line selecting method
A welding line can be rapidly extracted using three-dimensional CAD data constituted of a large number of line sections containing welding line candidates. The method of choosing a welding line includes: a step (S110) of specifying one face (first face constituting a reference face) from two faces of a member where a welding line is to be formed; a step (S120) of specifying the other face (second face constituting a groove face) from the two faces of the number where a welding line is to be formed; a step (S130) of extracting an edge line; a step (S140) of selecting an edge line zone where welding is possible; a step (S150) of creating welding line information by unifying edge lines where welding is possible; and a step (S160) of correcting welding line information in accordance with the groove shape. |
| US08779320B2 |
Resistance welding method, resistance welder, and method and device for evaluating resistance welding
Exemplary embodiments provide a resistance welding method capable of stabilizing quality or improving efficiency of resistance welding such as spot welding. This resistance welding method comprises a calculating step of calculating resistance ratio X of a second electric resistance value R2 of workpieces to be joined in residual heat after Joule heating stops to a first electric resistance value R1 of the workpieces immediately before the Joule heating stops or vice versa (R2/R1 or R1/R2); a determining step of determining whether the resistance ratio X is equal to or greater than a threshold value Xn, and a reheating step of carrying out the Joule heating again when the resistance ratio X is smaller than the threshold value Xn. Thereby at least part of a welding portion is melted and solidified to reliably form a nugget, and a stably resistance-welded member can be provided. |
| US08779319B2 |
Terminals for vacuum circuit breaker and vacuum circuit breaker having the same
Terminals for a vacuum circuit breaker include: a first terminal having a plurality of supporting rings, a plurality of finger contactors, and ring-shaped springs installed to contact an outer circumferential surface of the finger contactors so as to provide an elastic force to the finger contactors toward the center; a second terminal having an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the first terminal formed by an inner circumferential surface of the finger contactors of the first terminal, and configured by a bushing-type electric conductor; and an insulation guide member detachably fixed to a leading end of the second terminal such that an electric insulating property of the second terminal increases when the first and second terminals are disconnected from each other, having an electric insulating property, and tapered so as to have a decreased outer diameter as a distance from the second terminal becomes long. |
| US08779317B2 |
Contact assembly for vacuum interrupter
The contact assembly for a vacuum interrupter, comprises: a fixed contact; a fixed electrode coupled to the fixed contact; a movable contact movable to a first position at which the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact and a second position at which the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact; a movable electrode coupled to the movable contact and movable with the movable contact; and a contact support member installed to be in contact with the movable contact on the circumference of the movable electrode and increase a contact area contacting the movable contact together with the movable electrode in order to reduce stress applied to the movable contact and the movable electrode when the movable contact moves to the first position. |
| US08779312B2 |
Method and device for analyzing biomolecules with track-etched polymeric layers
The present disclosure provides methods, devices and kits that permit large numbers of target biomolecules to be detected simultaneously in samples originating from a multi-sample holder, such as a multi-well plate. One specific example method is a method of making multiple substantial replicas of a biomolecular content of a multi-well sample holder. Devices and kits for carrying out the described methods are also provided. |
| US08779307B2 |
Generating perceptible touch stimulus
Apparatus including: a body portion having a surface comprising a first surface electrode and a second surface electrode, spaced from the first surface electrode, and a controller configured to apply a time varying potential difference between the first surface electrode and the second surface electrode and configured to control at least the time variation in the potential difference. |
| US08779303B2 |
Hybrid package
The embodiments described herein provide for a packaging configuration that provides leads or connections for a packaging substrate from opposing surfaces of a package. Through silicon vias (TSV) are provided in order to accommodate additional input/output (I/O) pins that smaller dies are supporting. Various combinations of packages are enabled through the embodiments provided. |
| US08779300B2 |
Packaging substrate with conductive structure
A packaging substrate with conductive structure is provided, including a substrate body having at least one conductive pad on a surface thereof, a stress buffer metal layer disposed on the conductive pad and a thickness of the stress buffer metal layer being 1-20 μm, a solder resist layer disposed on the substrate body and having at least one opening therein for correspondingly exposing a portion of top surface of the stress buffer metal layer, a metal post disposed on a central portion of the surface of the stress buffer metal layer, and a solder bump covering the surfaces of the metal post. |
| US08779297B2 |
Heat release device
A heat release device is for use with a multilayer board that has an inner layer serving as a power layer. The heat release device includes a heat release member thermally and electrically connected to the power layer, and a heat release board having a heat release layer and a shield layer electrically insulated from each other. The heat release layer is thermally and electrically connected to the heat release member. The shield layer serves to shield against electromagnetic noise radiated from the heat release layer. The shield layer is electrically insulated from the heat release member connected to the heat release layer. The heat release device also includes an electrically conductive member electrically connected to the shield layer and grounded, and an insulator through which the heat release layer is thermally connected to the electrically conductive member. |
| US08779292B2 |
Substrate and substrate bonding device using the same
A substrate and a substrate bonding device using the same are provided. The substrate includes a base, upper and lower metal layers, and upper and lower covering layers. The base has an upper surface, a lower surface and a through-hole passing there through, wherein the upper and lower covering layers respectively covers the upper and lower metal layers respectively disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the base. The lower metal layer has an electrical bonding portion and a strengthening bonding portion insulated with each other. The strengthening bonding portion enhances the bonding strength between the substrate and another substrate. The upper metal layer is electrically connected to the electrical bonding portion via the through hole. The lower covering layer exposes the electrical bonding portion and the strengthening bonding portion so as to be respectively connected with two bonding portions of the another substrate. |
| US08779290B1 |
Corner wall conduit
An integrated conduit and molding mounting system for use at the intersection of a wall and ceiling is disclosed. The system comprises a conduit receiver and a conduit cover bonded to a molding piece. After installation of the conduit receiver at the wall and ceiling joint, the conduit cover and molding is snapped into place over the conduit receiver. The system also comprises a corner piece to eliminate mitering the joints at a corner and a seam cover to be mounted at the intersection of two straight runs. |
| US08779286B2 |
Non-metallic electrical box and method of production
A one piece integrally formed non-metallic electrical box assembly is produced by molding an electrical box onto a metallic ground strap so that the ground strap is fixed to the electrical box. The electrical box is molded with retaining members surrounding selected portions of the metallic ground strap so that the electrical box can be molded onto the metallic ground strap without buckling or deforming the electrical box and the ground strap during the molding process by compensating for the differences in expansion between the non-metallic electrical box and the metallic ground strap. |
| US08779283B2 |
Absorber layer for thin film photovoltaics and a solar cell made therefrom
A method, in certain embodiments, includes providing a metal alloy, annealing the metal alloy, and contacting the metal alloy with vapors of selenium, or sulfur, or a combination thereof. The metal alloy having a uniform first bulk composition and a first surface composition on annealing provides an annealed metal alloy having a non uniform second bulk composition and a second surface composition which on being contacted vapors of selenium, or sulfur, or a combination thereof, produces a selenized or a sulfurized metal alloy. Further the metal alloy may have a layer formed in situ from a low melting point metal within the alloy via diffusion rather than sequential deposition and co-evaporation. |
| US08779281B2 |
Solar cell
A solar cell includes a semi-conductive substrate, a doping layer, an anti-reflection layer, an electrode, a passivation stacked layer and a contact layer. The semi-conductive substrate has a front and a back surface. The doping layer is disposed on the front surface. The anti-reflection layer is disposed on the doping layer. The electrode is disposed on the anti-reflection layer and electrically connected to the doping layer. The passivation stacked layer is disposed on the back surface and has a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer and a middle dielectric layer sandwiched between the first and the second dielectric layer. The dielectric constant of the middle dielectric layer is substantially lower than the dielectric constant of the first dielectric layer and the dielectric constant of the second dielectric layer. The contact layer covers the passivation stacked layer and electrically contacts with the back surface of the semi-conductive substrate. |
| US08779280B2 |
Solar cell and method of manufacturing the same
A solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The solar cell includes a first doped region of a first conductive type formed on a semiconductor substrate of the first conductive type, a second doped region of a second conductive type opposite the first conductive type formed on the semiconductor substrate at a location adjacent to the first doped region, a passivation layer exposing a portion of each of the first and second doped regions, a first electrode formed on the exposed portion of the first doped region, and a second electrode formed on the exposed portion of the second doped region. The first electrode includes a metal seed layer directly contacting the first doped region, and the second electrode includes a metal seed layer directly contacting the second doped region. |
| US08779277B2 |
Light energy conversion material
A method of transferring electrons with a light energy conversion material is described. The material includes a silica porous material having silicon atoms chemically bonded with an organic group that is an electron donor in a skeleton thereof, and an electron acceptor disposed in at least one portion among a pore, the skeleton and the outer circumference of the porous material. The method includes absorbing light energy by the organic group and transferring electrons excited by the light energy to the electron acceptor. |
| US08779274B2 |
Electronic signal processor
An electronic signal processor for processing signals includes a complex first filter, one or more gain stages and a second filter. The first filter is characterized by a frequency response curve that includes multiple corner frequencies, with some corner frequencies being user selectable. The first filter also has at least two user-preset gain levels which may be alternately selected by a switch. Lower frequency signals are processed by the first filter with at least 12 db/octave slope, and preferably with 18 db/octave slope to minimize intermodulation distortion products by subsequent amplification in the gain stages. A second filter provides further filtering and amplitude control. The signal processor is particularly suited for processing audio frequency signals. |
| US08779273B2 |
Power supply device for guitar
Disclosed herein is a power supply device for supplying power to a pickup device for a guitar. The pickup device includes a battery casing detachably provided with a battery for supplying power to a pickup unit and a TRS connector configured such that signal lines are connected thereto. The power supply line of the battery is connected in parallel to two of the signal lines between the battery casing and the TRS connector. The power supply device includes a pickup connector connected to the TRS connector, an external device connector connected to an external device, and a step-down transformer configured to step down commercial power and supply the stepped-down power to the pickup device via the TRS connector. |
| US08779270B2 |
Operation detection apparatus
Operation detection apparatus includes a sensor section, and a pad formed of a transparent or translucent material and including at least one hitting portion provided on its surface. The hitting portion is suitable for being hit by a user. The sensor section is provided in a region positionally corresponding to the hitting portion under the pad, to detect hitting of the hitting portion. The sensor section includes a see-through portion provided in association with the hitting portion for allowing a region below the sensor section to be partly seen therethrough. The sensor section is sheet-shaped as a whole, and the see-through portion is an opening provided in a predetermined position of the sheet-shaped sensor section. Display area is located under the sensor section and exposed through the opening. |
| US08779269B2 |
Music content display apparatus and method
A storage section stores therein a plurality of music content items each including image data of one or more pages. An order is determined of two or more of the music content items stored in the storage section. Page information designating a page to be displayed is acquired, for example, in response to a user's operation. By reference to the storage section, a page arrangement is specified which is indicative of a state in which the image data of the ordered two or more music content items are arranged in a consecutive fashion in accordance with the determined order. A page designated by the acquired page number information is identified in the specified page arrangement. Image data of the acquired page is displayed on a display. |
| US08779254B1 |
Wheat variety W020544C1
A wheat variety designated W020544C1, the plants and seeds of wheat variety W020544C1, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety W020544C1 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety W020544C1 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety W020544C1. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety W020544C1 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods. |
| US08779251B2 |
Cotton variety 09R532B2R2
The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 09R532B2R2. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 09R532B2R2. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the cotton variety 09R532B2R2 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 09R532B2R2 with itself or another cotton variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US08779247B2 |
Soybean variety A1026289
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1026289. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1026289. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1026289 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1026289 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US08779241B2 |
Cucumber vein yellowing virus (CVYV) resistant cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L.)
Molecular markers genetically linked to, and capable of identifying, a genetic locus in the cucumber plant (Cucumis sativus L.) genome conferring a general resistance against tobamoviruses, and especially against two commercially important pathogenic tobamoviruses, i.e., cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) and cucumber fruit mottle mosaic virus (CFMMV) are provided. Methods for providing a cucumber plant (Cucumis sativus L.,) plants, plant parts and fruits with resistance against tobamoviruses and especially against two commercially important pathogenic tobamoviruses, i.e., cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) and cucumber fruit mottle mosaic virus (CFMMV) are also provided. |
| US08779239B2 |
Yield enhancement in plants by modulation of AP2 transcription factor
Compositions and methods for modulating flower organ development, leaf formation, phototropism, apical dominance, fruit development, initiation of roots and for increasing yield in a plant are provided. The compositions include an AP2 transcription factor sequence. Compositions of the invention comprise amino acid sequences and nucleotide sequences selected from SEQ ID NOS: 1-11 as well as variants and fragments thereof. Nucleotide sequences encoding the AP2 transcription factors are provided in DNA constructs for expression in a plant of interest are provided for modulating the level of an AP2 transcription factor sequence in a plant or a plant part are provided. The methods comprise introducing into a plant or plant part a heterologous polynucleotide comprising an AP2 transcription factor sequence of the invention. The level of the AP2 transcription factor polypeptide can be increased or decreased. Such method can be used to increase the yield in plants; in one embodiment, the method is used to increase grain yield in cereals. |
| US08779237B2 |
Plants having enhanced yield-related traits and a method for making the same
The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for enhancing various plant yield-related traits by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a RHL1 (Root Hairless 1). The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding a RHL1, which plants have enhanced various plant yield-related relative to corresponding wild type plants or other control plants. The invention also provides constructs useful in the methods of the invention. |
| US08779234B2 |
Resistance to downy mildew of onion caused by the fungus Peronospora destructor
The present invention relates to plants of the Allium cepa species, which are resistant to the downy mildew of onion caused by the fungus Peronospora destructor, due to a Pd resistance locus, wherein any fragment of a chromosome, comprising the Pd resistance locus, can be present homozygously in progeny without causing lethality. The present invention also encompasses plants of the Allium cepa species which are resistant to downy mildew of onion caused by the fungus Peronospora destructor (Pd) due to Pd resistance locus present homozygously in the genome of the plants. The present invention also provides processes for obtaining plants resistant to downy mildew of onion, which are suitable for obtaining cultivated onions and shallots. |
| US08779231B2 |
Transgenic mouse for expressing human ferritin in tissue non-specific manner and use thereof
The present invention relates to a recombinant vector and a transgenic mouse for expressing human ferritin in a tissue non-specific manner, and more particularly, to a vector prepared by operably linking a human ferritin gene to a promoter including a cytomegalovirus (CMV) early enhancer element and a β-actin promoter, and a transgenic mouse expressing human ferritin in a tissue non-specific manner, which is transformed with the vector. Further, the present invention relates to a method for preparing a transgenic mouse, and a method for monitoring cell or tissue therapy using the transgenic mouse. |
| US08779223B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing additives in a hydrocarbon stream
A method for reducing one or more additives in a gaseous hydrocarbon stream (40) such as natural gas, comprising the steps of: (a) admixing an initial hydrocarbon feed stream (10) with one or more additives (20) to provide a multiphase hydrocarbon stream (30); (b) passing the multiphase hydrocarbon stream (30) from a first location (A) to a second location (B2); (c) at the second location (B2), passing the multiphase hydrocarbon stream (30) through a separator (22) to provide one or more liquid streams (50) comprising the majority of the one or more additives, and a gaseous hydrocarbon stream (40) comprising the remainder of the one or more additives; and (d) washing the gaseous hydrocarbon stream (40) in a decontamination unit (24) with a washing stream (60), wherein the washing stream (60) comprises distilled water, to provide an additive-enriched stream (70) and an additive-reduced hydrocarbon stream (80). |
| US08779220B2 |
Capture of fluorinated vinyl monomers using ionic liquids
A method for capturing certain fluorinated vinyl monomers from a gaseous mixture using ionic liquids is described. The gaseous mixture is contacted with at least one ionic liquid, whereby at least a portion of the fluorinated vinyl monomer is absorbed by the ionic liquid. The method is useful for reducing emissions of fluorinated vinyl monomers and for increasing the product yields in the manufacture of polymers from these monomers. |
| US08779219B2 |
Process for preparing chlorine-containing fluorocarbon compound
The present invention provides a process for preparing at least one chlorine-containing fluorocarbon compound selected from the group consisting of chlorine-containing fluoropropane compounds represented by Formula (1): CFnCl3-nCHClCH2—Cl, wherein n is 1 or 2, and chlorine-containing fluoropropene compounds represented by Formula (2): CFnCl3-nCCl═CH2, wherein n is 1 or 2, wherein the process includes the step of contacting at least one chlorine-containing compound selected from the group consisting of 1,1,1,2,3-pentachloropropane, 1,1,2,3-tetrachloropropene, and 2,3,3,3-tetrachloropropene with hydrogen fluoride in the absence of a catalyst while heating. According to the present invention, the chlorine-containing propane and propene compounds having 1 or 2 fluorine atoms can be prepared by an industrially applicable, simple and effective process. |
| US08779218B2 |
Process for the manufacture of 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (HFCO 1233xf) by liquid phase fluorination of pentachloropropane
Process of catalytic fluorination in liquid phase of product 1,1,1,2,3-pentachloropropane or/and 1,1,2,2,3-pentachloropropane into product 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene in presence of a catalyst. |
| US08779217B2 |
Method for preparing fluorine compounds
The invention relates to a method for preparing fluoropropenes of formula (I) CF3CF═CHR, where R is a hydrogen or a fluorine atom from at least one compound of formula (Ia) CF3CF═CFR, where R has the same meaning as in formula (I), said method including the following steps: (i) hydrogenating at least one compound of formula (Ia) in an adiabatic reactor in the presence of a catalyst with a superstoichiometric amount of hydrogen so as to produce a hydrofluoropropane; (ii) partially condensing the flow from the adiabatic reactor of step (i) so as to produce a gaseous phase fraction, including unreacted hydrogen and a portion of the formed hydrofluoropropane, which is recirculated to step (i), and a liquid phase fraction including the residue of the hydrofluoropropane; (iii) dehydrofluorinating hydrofluoropropane from the liquid fraction of step (ii) using potassium hydroxide in an aqueous reaction medium contained in an agitated reactor so as to produce the fluoropropene of formula (I); and (iv) purifying the fluoropropene obtained in step (iii). |
| US08779215B2 |
Methods and apparatus for synthesis of alcohols from syngas
This invention provides a method for producing ethanol and 2-propanol from syngas, the method comprising: (a) converting syngas into methanol using a methanol-synthesis catalyst; (b) converting methanol into ethylene and propylene using a methanol-to-olefins catalyst; and (c) hydrating ethylene into ethanol and propylene into 2-propanol. As taught herein, the combined yield of the ethanol and the 2-propanol from biomass can be at least 100 gallons per dry ton biomass. In certain embodiments, the yield of ethanol is at least 100 gallons per dry ton biomass. In some embodiments, the yield of 2-propanol is at least 50 gallons per dry ton biomass. |
| US08779208B2 |
Process for reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds from the ketonization of carboxylic acids
Disclosed is a process for reducing the emission of volatile organic compounds that are produced during the ketonization of carboxylic acids to ketones. The ketonization of carboxylic acids produces a gaseous by-product stream containing carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds. This gaseous by-product stream can be fed to a direct-fired furnace used to heat the ketonization reaction feed streams where the volatile organic compounds are destroyed by combustion in the furnace. The carbon dioxide stream further acts as a diluent for the fuel to the furnace. |
| US08779207B2 |
Method for synthesis of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and fullerene derivatives
The present subject matter relates to methods for the synthesis of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and fullerene derivatives in a yield of at least 40%. |
| US08779205B2 |
Method for pre-treating hydroamination catalysts
The present invention relates to a process for the pretreatment of hydroamination catalysts, wherein the hydroamination catalyst is brought into contact with an ammonia-comprising mixture before the reaction of olefins with ammonia, a primary or secondary amine, with the ammonia-comprising mixture comprising less than 40% by weight of olefinThe invention further relates to a process for preparing alkylamines by reaction of olefins with ammonia, primary or secondary amines over a hydroamination catalyst, wherein the hydroamination catalyst is pretreated according to the invention before the reaction of the olefins by bringing the hydroamination catalyst into contact with an ammonia-comprising mixture comprising less than 40% by weight of olefin. |
| US08779204B2 |
Fluorene copolymer, method for preparation and use thereof
A fluorene copolymer, method for preparation thereof, and use thereof are provided. Said fluorene copolymer comprises copolymer represented by formula (I), wherein R1-R2, R5-R8 are selected from H or C1-C20 alkyl, R3-R4 are selected from H, C1-C20 alkyl, C1-C20 alkoxyl, phenyl or phenoxyl, x+y=1, x≠0, y≠0; n is an integer of 1 to 200, Ar1 is thiophene unit-containing group. On account of thiophene unit and thienopyrazine unit, the fluorene copolymer has wide spectrum response range and favorable stability. |
| US08779199B2 |
Agomelatine intermediates and preparation method thereof
The present invention relates to the intermediate compounds for preparation of agomelatine, as well as the preparation methods thereof The intermediate of the present invention for preparation of agomelatine is compound A as shown in the following formula. Also provided are two novel intermediate compounds. When we use these new intermediate compounds to prepare agomelatine, it is simple to manipulate, well-controlled and with high purity, without complicated operations such as rectification and column chromatography separation, and suitable for industrial production. Meanwhile, the preparation methods of the two new intermediates themselves is simple and high yield, only using the most commonly-used 7-methoxy-tetralone as original starting material and undergoing one step of reaction to obtain the intermediates, followed by one more step of converting the intermediate compounds to desired product agomelatine. Said reaction processes are greatly simplified, with the reaction yield being improved and the difficulty in purification of previous method being overcome, as compare with the previous technique for preparation of agomelatine. Typically, the yield of the present invention is over 70%. |
| US08779198B2 |
Ring opening of lactones and lactams
The present invention provides a novel process for opening a lactone and/or a lactam ring. More particularly, the present invention provides a process that employs a novel catalyst in the opening of a lactone ring and/or a lactam ring. Additionally, the present invention also provides a novel deprotection process of any protecting group present in either the lactone ring-containing and/or lactam ring-containing compound and/or in the ring-opened product thereof. |
| US08779194B2 |
Carbamoylation of amines, thiophenols, mercaptanes and phenols employing organic azides
The present invention relates to carbamoylation of amines, mercaptanes, thiophenols and phenols employing organic azides. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for generating urea derivatives, thiocarbamate derivatives and carbamate derivatives, and is based on the intermediate formation of isocyanate, starting from an organic azide. The reaction as described is useful in applications for modified nucleoside synthesis, oligonucleotide synthesis, as well as modification, labeling and conjugation of polymers and biomolecules. |
| US08779193B2 |
Method for producing a purified borazine compound, method for filling a borazine compound, and container for preserving a borazine compound
On producing a purified borazine compound, a borazine compound is filtrated under an atmospheric condition of a water content of not higher than 2000 volume ppm. Or, on filling a borazine compound into a container, the above described borazine compound is filled into the above described container under an atmospheric condition of a water content of not higher than 2000 volume ppm. Or, as a container for preservation for preserving a borazine compound, a container for preserving a borazine compound, which has withstanding pressure of not lower than 0.1 MPa, is used. |
| US08779190B2 |
Process for producing sulfur-containing amino acid or salt thereof
According to the present invention, a new process for producing a sulfur-containing amino acid without using of hydrogen cyanide or sodium azide which requires careful handling as a raw material can be provided. The present invention relates to a process for producing a sulfur-containing amino acid represented by the following formula (1) or a salt thereof: wherein R1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms and optionally having substituents or a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms and optionally having substituents, and n is an integral number of from 1 to 4, comprising a step of reacting a sulfur-containing 2-ketocarboxylic acid represented by the formula (2) or a salt thereof: wherein R1 and n mean the same as defined above, with ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of a transition metal catalyst. |
| US08779188B2 |
Process for the production of L-carnitine tartrate
The invention relates to a process for the production of L-carnitine tartrate, wherein the L-carnitine tartrate is precipitated from a reaction mixture comprising L-carnitine and tartaric acid dissolved in ethanol, the ethanol having a water content of less than 5% (w/w). |
| US08779182B2 |
Process for the simultaneous production of different mixtures of diisocyanate isomers of the diphenylmethane series
Process for the simultaneous and continuous production of two different mixtures of predominantly 4,4′-MDI and 2,4′-MDI in a single-step suspension melt crystallisation process whereby a mixed diisocyanate feed stream [MIx] is used to produce simultaneously two mixed diisocyanate streams [MIy] and [MIz] wherein x=80 to 92, y=97 to 99 and z=60 to 80 preferably x=82 to 88, y=97.2 to 98.5 and z=63 to 70 where x, y and z are percentages by weight of the 4,4′-MDI isomer contained in the diisocyanate isomer mixture. |
| US08779180B2 |
Process for removing an alkanol impurity from an organic carbonate stream
The invention relates to a process for removing an alkanol impurity from a stream containing an organic carbonate and the alkanol impurity, comprising contacting the stream with a catalyst to effect reaction of the alkanol impurity with the organic carbonate. |
| US08779179B2 |
Synthesis of silyl acetylenes
The present disclosure provides a method of preparing silylethynyl compounds in which two of the hydrocarbyl groups bonded to the silicon exclusive of the ethynyl group, are the same and one is different, that may be used in preparing novel silylethynyl functionalized acene semiconductor chromophores. |
| US08779177B1 |
Method for bottom-up graphene sheet preparation and bandgap engineering
A combination of a substrate selected from silicon, silicon carbide or a metal and a graphene precursor having the following properties: (a) an aromatic structure that forms the basis of the graphene structure, said aromatic structure being selected from the group consisting of: benzene, naphthalene, pyrene, anthracene, chrysene, coronene, and phenanthrene, or a cyclic or acyclic structures which can be converted to aromatic structures and (b) functional groups that can react with each other to form additional aromatic structures. |
| US08779176B2 |
Metal complexes
The present invention relates, inter alia, to metal complexes having improved solubility, process for the preparation of the metal complexes, devices comprising these metal complexes, and the use of the metal complexes. |
| US08779172B2 |
Corn stillage oil derivatives
Corn stillage oil derivatives having values for Gardner color of 10 or less and methods for making the corn stillage oil derivatives are disclosed. In one aspect, the corn stillage oil derivative comprises a heat bleached corn stillage oil. Preferably, the heat bleached corn stillage oil has a value for Gardner color of from 4 to 8. In another aspect, the corn stillage oil derivative comprises a blown corn stillage oil. Preferably, the blown corn stillage oil has a value for Gardner color of from 5 to 8. |
| US08779171B2 |
Hydroxamates as therapeutic agents
The present invention is directed to certain hydroxamate derivatives that are useful in the treatment of hepatitis C. These compounds are also inhibitors of histone deacetylase and are therefore useful in the treatment of diseases associated with histone deacetylase activity. Pharmaceutical compositions and processes for preparing these compounds are also disclosed. |
| US08779163B2 |
Synthesis of UDP-Glucose: N-acylsphingosine glucosyl transferase inhibitors
Disclosed is a novel enantiomeric synthesis ceramide-like inhibitors of UDP-glucose: N-acylsphingosine glucosyltransferase. Also disclosed are novel intermediates formed during the synthesis. |
| US08779162B2 |
Cyanate ester compounds and cured products thereof
There is provided a novel cyanate ester compound that can provide a cured product possessing excellent heat resistance. The cyanate ester compound is represented by general formula (1): wherein R1 represents an aromatic substituent having 6 to 10 carbon atoms or an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; Rx1's each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a halogen; Ry1's each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a halogen; m is an integer of 0 to 4; and n is an integer of 0 to 4. |
| US08779160B2 |
Process for the preparation of (1r,4r)-6′-fluoro-(N,N-dimethyl- and N-methyl)-4-phenyl-4′,9′-dihydro-3′H-spiro[cyclohexane-1,1′-pyrano-[3,4,b]indol]-4-amine
A process for the preparation of (1r,4r)-6′-fluoro-N,N-dimethyl-4-phenyl-4′,9′-dihydro-3′H-spiro[cyclohexane-1,1′-pyrano[3,4b]indol]-4-amine and (1r,4r)-6′-fluoro-N-methyl-4-phenyl-4′,9′-dihydro-3′H-spiro[cyclohexane-1,1′-pyrano[3,4b]-indol]-4-amine or physiologically acceptable acid addition salts thereof. |
| US08779156B2 |
Analogues for the treatment or prevention of flavivirus infections
Compounds represented by formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein A, B, B′, X, Y, R1, R2, R2′, R3, R3′, R4, R4′, R5, R5′, m, n, or p are as defined herein, are useful for treating flaviviridae viral infections. |
| US08779155B2 |
1,2,3-triazole based metal-organic framework as photo-active materials
A TAF compound that can have substitutions on either of the two benzene rings and/or the C-5 position of the triazole to alter the properties of the TAF compound can be wherein X can be H, an aromatic group, a hetero aromatic group, an alkyl or any substituted alkyl group, ketone, aldyhyde, carboxylic acid derivatives; Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, and Y5 can be one or more of H, aromatic groups, hetero aromatic groups, alkyl or any substituted alkyl groups, ketone, aldyhyde, or carboxylic acid derivatives; and Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, and Z5 can be one or more of H aromatic groups, hetero aromatic groups, alkyl or any substituted alkyl groups, ketone, aldyhyde, or carboxylic acid derivatives. Included is a preparation of the TAF compound and use as a photoactive and/or catalyst. |
| US08779152B2 |
Methods for preparing ruthenium carbene complex precursors and ruthenium carbene complexes
A method for preparing a ruthenium carbene complex precursor includes reacting a ruthenium refinery salt with a hydrogen halide to form a ruthenium intermediate, and reacting the ruthenium intermediate with an L-type ligand to form the ruthenium carbene complex precursor. A method for preparing a ruthenium vinylcarbene complex includes converting a ruthenium carbene complex precursor into a ruthenium hydrido halide complex, and reacting the ruthenium hydrido halide complex with a propargyl halide to form the ruthenium vinylcarbene complex. A method for preparing a ruthenium carbene complex includes converting a ruthenium carbene complex precursor into a ruthenium carbene complex having a structure (PR1R2R3)2Cl2Ru═CH—R4, wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are alike or different, and wherein covalent bonds may optionally exist between two or more of R1, R2, and R3. |
| US08779147B2 |
3,4-disubstituted 1H-pyrazole compounds and their use as cyclin dependent kinase and glycogen synthase kinase-3 modulators
The invention provides compounds of the formula (0) or salts or tautomers or N-oxides or solvates thereof, and combinations thereof with other anti-cancer agents, for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of disease states and conditions such as cancers mediated by cyclin-dependent kinase and glycogen synthase kinase-3. |
| US08779145B2 |
Process for the preparation of 2-(cyclohexylmethyl)-N-{2-[(2S)-1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl]ethyl}-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline
Industrially applicable process for preparing 2-(cyclohexylmethyl)-N-{2-[(2S)-1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl]ethyl}-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-7-sulfonamide, and salts thereof. |
| US08779137B2 |
Compound and organic electroluminescent element using the same
The present invention provides a novel compound having an excellent property to inject a hole into a device such as an organic EL device. More specifically, the present invention provides a compound comprising a residue obtained by removing at least one hydrogen atom from a structure represented by the following formula (1): wherein each R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or the like, each of such groups optionally having a substituent; the R1s may be the same or different; each R2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or the like, each of such groups optionally having a substituent; the R2s may be the same or different; each R4 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or the like, each of such groups optionally having a substituent; the R4s may be the same or different; each R15 represents an alkyl group or the like, each of such groups optionally having a substituent; where there are a plurality of R15, they may be the same or different; each e represents an integer of from 0 to 6; and the e's may be the same or different. |
| US08779133B2 |
Compound, novel ligand, novel transition metal complex, and catalyst including novel transition metal complex
Provided are novel ligands for transition metal complexes which exhibit high coordination power with respect to metals by being free of substituents at the positions ortho to phosphorus or arsenic and which have electron-withdrawing power comparable to the highest level known in conventional ligands. One ligand includes a compound represented by General Formula (1): R1R2R3A or General Formula (2): R1R2A-Y-AR3R4 and having a total of 15 to 110 carbon atoms. In the formulae, A is phosphorus or arsenic; R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each independently a substituted pyridyl group having optionally different electron-withdrawing groups bonded to the positions meta to the atom A as well as hydrogen atoms bonded to the positions ortho to the atom A; and Y is a divalent group derived from a C2-20, optionally substituted and optionally heteroatom-containing, aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic compound or from ferrocene. |
| US08779129B2 |
Triazinedione derivatives as GABAB receptor modulators
The present invention provides novel compounds of formula I wherein W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, B, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, E and L are as defined herein; invention compounds are gamma amino butyrique acid receptor-subtype B (“GABAB”) positive allosteric modulators (enhancers), which are useful to provide methods of treating or preventing diseases or disorders, including treatment of anxiety, depression, epilepsy, schizophrenia, cognitive disorders, spasticity and skeletal muscle rigidity, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cerebral palsy, neuropathic pain and craving associated with cocaine and nicotine, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorders, urge urinary incontinence, gastroesophageal reflux disease, transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxations, functional gastrointestinal disorders and irritable bowel syndrome. |
| US08779124B2 |
Ammoximation process
A redox ammoximation process in which a ketone or aldehyde is reacted with ammonia and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst, wherein: the catalyst is an aluminophosphate based redox catalyst having the qualitative general formula (I) M1M2AlPO-5 (I) in which M1 is at least one transition metal atom having redox catalytic capability; M2 is at least one metal atom in the (IV) oxidation state; M1 and M2 are different from each other; and a proportion of the phosphorous atoms in the M1M2AlPO-5 type structure are replaced by M2 atoms. |
| US08779123B2 |
Process for the synthesis of 3-(2-bromo-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)propanenitrile, and application in the synthesis of ivabradine and addition salts thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid
Process for the synthesis of the compound of formula (I): Application in the synthesis of ivabradine, addition salts thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid and hydrates thereof. |
| US08779121B2 |
Process for the synthesis of 3-(2-bromo-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)propanenitrile, and application in the synthesis of ivabradine and addition salts thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid
Process for the synthesis of the compound of formula (I): Application in the synthesis of ivabradine, addition salts thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid and hydrates thereof. |
| US08779120B2 |
Macrocyclic derivatives of glycolurils, and methods of preparing and using the same
The present invention relates to novel macrocyclic derivatives of glycolurils of general formula I, and methods of their preparation. These novel derivatives can be used for the selective removing of various compounds from solutions in polar and nonpolar solvents, and from water, e.g. for water purification and desalination, also for separation of liquid mixtures and mixtures of gases and organic solvent vapors, preparation of ion-exchange materials and materials which are used as stationary phase in chromatography, construction of sensors, transport and targeting of drugs in organisms, and also preparation of materials bearing aromatic or curative compounds. |
| US08779118B2 |
Base modified bicyclic nucleosides and oligomeric compounds prepared therefrom
Provided herein are novel base modified bicyclic nucleosides, oligomeric compounds prepared therefrom and methods of using the oligomeric compounds. More particularly, novel pyrimidine bicyclic nucleosides are provided wherein each pyrimidine base is substituted at the 5 position with an optionally substituted, aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system comprising from 5 to 7 ring atoms selected from C, N, O and S. In certain embodiments, the oligomeric compounds provided herein hybridize to a portion of a target RNA resulting in loss of normal function of the target RNA. |
| US08779116B2 |
SiRNA-mediated gene silencing
The present invention is directed to small interfering RNA molecules (siRNA) targeted against an allele of interest, and methods of using these siRNA molecules. |
| US08779114B2 |
siRNA conjugate and preparation method thereof
Provided are an siRNA-polymer conjugate, and a method for preparing the same, and more specifically, to a hybrid conjugate formed by covalently bonding siRNA and a polymeric compound for improving the in vivo stability of siRNA, and to a preparation method of the hybrid conjugate. The conjugate of the present invention can improve the in vivo stability of siRNA, thereby achieving an efficient delivery of therapeutic siRNA into cells and exhibiting the activity of siRNA even with a small dose of a relative low concentration. Therefore, the conjugate can advantageously be used as not only an siRNA treatment tool for cancers and other infectious disease, but also a novel type siRNA delivery system. |
| US08779113B2 |
Group of nucleic acid fragments for prevention of HIV infection or AIDS and the usage thereof
The invention provides a group of nucleic acid fragments, shown in the sequence listing, for prevention of HIV infection or AIDS and the usage thereof. In the invention, a series of RNA fragments, which are highly homogenous to all the published HIV gene sequences, were obtained by homology compare. The double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) derived from these fragments can effectively inhibit the expression of the HIV genes. The RNA transcribed by plasmid, also can suppress the expression of the HIV in the cell. After the adenovirus or associated virus which carry DNA corresponding above RNA infect the cell, the transcription dsRNA can inhibit the expression of the HIV genes. |
| US08779112B2 |
Modified protease propeptides
This invention relates to modified polynucleotides encoding modified proteases, and methods for altering the production of proteases in microorganisms. In particular, the present invention relates to methods for altering the expression of proteases in microorganisms, such as Bacillus species. The invention discloses modified polynucleotides, vectors, modified polypeptides, and processes for enhancing the production of proteases. |
| US08779105B2 |
Monoclonal antibodies to programmed death 1 (PD-1)
The present invention provides isolated monoclonal antibodies, particularly human monoclonal antibodies, that specifically bind to PD-1 with high affinity. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the antibodies of the invention, expression vectors, host cells and methods for expressing the antibodies of the invention are also provided. Immunoconjugates, bispecific molecules and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies of the invention are also provided. The invention also provides methods for detecting PD-1, as well as methods for treating various diseases, including cancer and infectious diseases, using anti-PD-1 antibodies. The present invention further provides methods for using a combination immunotherapy, such as the combination of anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 antibodies, to treat hyperproliferative disease, such as cancer. The invention also provides methods for altering adverse events related to treatment with such antibodies individually. |
| US08779102B2 |
Recognition molecules for the treatment and detection of tumors
The invention relates to recognition molecules directed towards tumors, and it also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such recognition molecules, methods for the production of such recognition molecules, and to the use of such recognition molecules in the diagnosis and therapy of tumor diseases. |
| US08779101B2 |
IL-17 binding proteins
Proteins that bind IL-17 and/or IL-17F are described along with there use in composition and methods for treating, preventing, and diagnosing IL-17 related diseases and for detecting IL-17 in cells, tissues, samples, and compositions. |
| US08779098B2 |
B7-H3L cell surface antigen and antibodies that bind thereto
The invention provides the identification and characterization of disease and cancer-associated antigen, RAAG10. The invention also provides a family of monoclonal antibodies that bind to antigen RAAG10, methods of diagnosing and treating various human cancers and diseases that express RAAG10. |
| US08779097B2 |
Accelerated gelation of regenerated fibroin
The invention discloses a process for the acceleration of gelling time of regenerated silk fibroin using gelling agent, preferably silica to create a porous structure, devoid of microbial growth. |
| US08779096B2 |
Neurogenin
The invention relates to novel neurogenin proteins, nucleic acids and antibodies. |
| US08779089B2 |
Methods and compositions for soft tissue repair
Compositions and methods for tissue repair are provided including cell binding peptides and growth factor binding peptides. The cell binding peptides bind to one or more of stem cells, fibroblasts, or endothelial cells. The growth factor binding peptides include platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) binding peptides and growth differentiation factor (GDF) binding peptides. The tissue for repair includes tendon, muscle, connective tissue, ligament, cardiac tissue, vascular tissue, or dermis. Implantable devices for tissue repair are provided to which the cell and growth factor binding peptides are attached, such as acellular extracellular matrix having attached binding peptide. |
| US08779087B2 |
Method for producing aliphatic polycarbonate
The present invention provides an aliphatic polycarbonate production method which, using carbon dioxide and an epoxide, easily produces aliphatic polycarbonates having a low metal catalyst content.The invention relates to an aliphatic polycarbonate production method which includes a step of polymerization by reacting carbon dioxide with an epoxide in the presence of a metal catalyst; and a step of treating a polymer obtainable in the polymerization step with a surfactant. High-purity aliphatic polycarbonate having a low metal catalyst content can be easily provided by the aliphatic polycarbonate production method of the invention. |
| US08779086B2 |
Electrochromic material and a method for producing the same
An electrochromic material containing a π-electron based conjugated polymer that changes from a desired color developed state to a decolored state, and a method for producing the electrochromic material, are provided. The electrochromic material contains aπ-electron based conjugated polymer as shown in chemical formula (1). In formula (1), each X is any one selected from —S—, —O—, —Se— and —Te—; each Y is any one selected from a hydrogen atom and an organic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; W is an arylene group or divalent heteroaromatic ring group; and n is a number of 2 to 1,000. Repetition of this structure forms a structure of random copolymers, graft copolymers, block copolymers and/or dendrimers. |
| US08779083B2 |
Polylactide resin, method of preparing the same, and polylactide resin composition comprising the same
Disclosed are polylactide resin that may exhibit and maintain excellent mechanical properties, exhibit excellent heat resistance, and thus can be used for a semi-permanent use, a method for preparing the same, and a polylactide resin composition comprising the same.The polylactide resin has a low hydrolysis rate constant of 0.1 day−1 or less and a weight average molecular weight of 100,000˜1,000,000, under specific conditions. |
| US08779082B2 |
Catalyst for producing polyester and method for producing polyester
The invention relates to an improved linear microdialysis probe comprising a continuous length of flexible tubing (1) having at least one window (4) formed therein, said window covering at least one part of the circumference of the tubing, while the remaining part forms at least one unbroken connection between a first end of said tubing and a second end of said tubing, said ends adapted to be attached to an inlet for perfusion liquid and the other end forming an outlet for the dialysate, said at least one window (4) exposing a tubular semipermeable membrane (2). |
| US08779081B2 |
Process for formation of poly(arylene ethers) with lower fine particle content
The invention is directed to a method for producing poly(arylene) ethers with improved particle size characteristics. The improved particle size characteristics of the polyphenylene ether include one or both of: (i) up to about 50 weight percent of particles smaller than 38 micrometers; and a (ii) mean particle size greater than 100 or more micrometers. |
| US08779077B2 |
All-conjugated triblock polyelectrolytes electron injection layer
A method for the production neutral triblock all-conjugated copolymers by palladium-catalyzed chain-growth polymerization, and methods to convert these copolymers into all-conjugated triblock polyelectrolytes with well-controlled molecular weight and polydispersity. A device is provided which incorporates such all-conjugated triblock polyelectrolytes as an electron injection layer. |
| US08779075B2 |
Use of nonionic surfactants as emulsifiers for emulsion polymerization (III)
The invention relates to the use of aqueous solutions of nonionic surfactants as gel phase free emulsion systems for emulsion polymerization. The nonionic surfactants are chosen from the group (a) of the addition products from 1 to 40 mol ethylene and/or propylene oxide per mol of allyl alcohol, and (b) of the addition products from 1 to 40 mol ethylene and/or propylene oxide per mol of allyl alcohol, wherein the OH-group of said addition products is end-capped in the sense that it is substituted by a group OR, wherein R is an alkyl group with 1 to 20 C-atoms, which can be saturated or unsaturated, straight chained or branched. |
| US08779074B2 |
Addition cure silicone emulsion composition and release film
A silicone emulsion composition is provided comprising organopolysiloxane, organohydrogenpolysiloxane, surfactant, and water. Two organopolysiloxanes of different type are blended, whereby a cured silicone coating is improved to be fully adherent to plastic film and lightly peelable from pressure-sensitive adhesive. By limiting the SiH content of organohydrogenpolysiloxane, the composition is improved in shelf stability. A specific surfactant is used to control the size of emulsion particles so as to improve wettability to plastic film. |
| US08779072B2 |
Heat-curable silicone rubber composition
The present invention provides a heat-curable silicone rubber composition having antistatic properties, even after secondary vulcanization at high temperatures. Specifically disclosed is a heat-curable silicone rubber composition which is obtained by adding 0.05 to 1000 ppm of (B) a poorly water-soluble or water-insoluble ionic substance whose anionic component is bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, to 100 parts by weight of (A) a heat-curable silicone rubber. |
| US08779070B2 |
Alkyl ether compositions and methods of use
A polymer includes a linker represented by Formula I ([OR1OCH2OR2OCH2]m), where R1 and R2 are, independently, alkylene, alkenylene, arylene, heteroarylene, or alkylarylalkylene; and the polymer has a weight average molecular weight of about 500 g/mol to about 2,000,000 g/mol, and m is 1 to 1000. |
| US08779061B2 |
Curable elastomeric compositions
A curable composition and an article produced therefrom are disclosed in which the composition can comprise an optional first component, a second component, and a third component; the optional first component includes a copolymer derived from ethylene and a polar monomer; the second component includes a copolymer derived from ethylene, a vinyl acetate or alkyl(meth)acrylate, and carbon monoxide; and the third component includes a copolymer derived from ethylene and an alkyl(meth)acrylate or a polymer of alkyl(meth)acrylate. |
| US08779057B2 |
Dye-encapsulated dispersions suitable for printing applications
The instant invention provides dye-encapsulated dispersions suitable for printing applications, method of producing the same, ink compositions made therefrom, delivery systems for such ink compositions, and articles having a coating layer derived from such ink compositions. |
| US08779056B2 |
Aqueous polyurethane resin dispersion
Provided is an aqueous polyurethane resin dispersion having a good film-forming property, and excellent mechanical properties and water resistance. The present invention is an aqueous polyurethane resin dispersion comprising water and a polyurethane resin (U) and satisfying all of the following conditions (1) to (6): (1) a urethane group content in the polyurethane resin (U) is 0.5 to 5.0 mmol/g, based on weight of the polyurethane resin (U); (2) a terminal amino group content in the polyurethane resin (U) is not more than 0.35 mmol/g, based on the weight of the polyurethane resin (U); (3) a number average molecular weight (Mn) of the polyurethane resin (U) is 10,000 to 1,000,000; (4) a ratio (Mw/Mn) of a weight average molecular weight (Mw) to the number average molecular weight (Mn) of the polyurethane resin (U) is 1.5 to 3.5; (5) a melting temperature of the polyurethane resin (U) is 70 to 280° C.; and (6) a volume average particle diameter (Dv) of the polyurethane resin (U) is 0.01 to 1 μm. |
| US08779055B2 |
Hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide urethane polymer
The present invention relates to a composition comprising a hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide urethane polymer with pendant or end-capping tertiary amine groups, the conjugate acids of which have a pKa in the range of about 4.5 to about 6.5. The composition of the present invention is useful as a rheology modifier for paint formulations formulated over a wide pH range and is more stable to heat aging than higher pKa amine-modified HEURs. |
| US08779052B2 |
Effect pigment-containing, water-borne base coating compositions
This invention provides an effect pigment-containing, water-borne base coating composition comprising water-dispersible acrylic polymer particles (A) and effect pigment (B), the water-dispersible acrylic polymer particles (A) being obtained by emulsion polymerization of a radical-polymerizable unsaturated monomeric mixture including an amido-containing, radical-polymerizable unsaturated monomer having at least two radical-polymerizable unsaturated groups per molecule, and the effect pigment (B) being contained at a pigment weight concentration (PWC) within a range of 15-50%. |
| US08779051B2 |
Thermoplastic composition, method of producing the same, and articles made therefrom
The instant invention provides a thermoplastic composition, method of producing the same, and articles made therefrom. The thermoplastic composition according to present invention comprises the melt blending product of: (a) from 10 to 75 percent by weight of a continuous phase, based on the total weight of the thermoplastic composition, wherein said continuous phase comprises one or more thermoplastic polymers; and (b) from 25 to 90 percent by weight of a dispersed phase comprising one or more core/shell polymer particles, based on the total weight of the thermoplastic composition, wherein said one or more core/shell polymer particles comprise a crosslinked elastomer core and a thermoplastic shell and wherein said core/shell polymer has an average particle size diameter in the range of from 70 to 10,000 nm. |
| US08779049B2 |
Outer casing and method for producing the same
An outer casing for an electric device which is a molded article of a environmental resin wherein poly(lactic acid) and/or a lactic acid copolymer is used, is constituted by molding a flame-retarded resin composition including a resin component containing poly(lactic acid) and/or the lactic acid copolymer as a main ingredient, and silica-magnesia catalyst particles as a flame retardance-imparting component which imparts flame retardance, wherein the content of the silica-magnesia catalyst particles is 0.5% by weight or more and 9.0% by weight or less of the total weight of the flame-retarded resin composition. The silica-magnesia catalyst particles preferably have an average particle diameter of 10 μm or less. |
| US08779047B2 |
Coating composition
There is provided a coating composition comprising (A) a thermoplastic non-fluorine-containing polymer, (B) inorganic ferroelectric particles, (C) an affinity-improving agent comprising at least one of a coupling agent, a surfactant and an epoxy group-containing compound, and (D) a solvent, and there is provided a film formed using the coating composition which has highly dielectric property and low dielectric loss, can be made thin, is excellent in winding property (flexibility) and is suitable as a highly dielectric film for a film capacitor. |
| US08779044B2 |
Heat-stabilized acrylate elastomer composition and process for its production
Polyamide-filled acrylate copolymer compositions comprising a continuous acrylate copolymer phase and a discontinuous polyamide phase are produced by a melt mixing process. When crosslinked with diamine curatives the polyamide-filled acrylate copolymer compositions exhibit enhanced resistance to heat aging compared to carbon black-reinforced acrylate copolymer compositions. |
| US08779037B2 |
Polycarbonate resin composition with excellent flame retardancy
A polycarbonate resin composition is provided. The composition comprises (A) 50 to 90% by weight of a polycarbonate resin, (B) 5 to 30% by weight of a polymethyl methacrylate resin, (C) 5 to 20% by weight of a phosphate compound, (D) 0.01 to 2% by weight of a metal sulfonate as an organic salt, and (E) 0.05 to 2% by weight of a fluorinated olefin. The composition is highly flame retardant and scratch resistant. |
| US08779036B2 |
Catalysis of epoxy resin formulations
The present invention relates to epoxy resin formulations comprising a specific catalyst mixture for enhancing the reactivity thereof. |
| US08779033B2 |
Glass fiber reinforced polycarbonate molding compositions
The invention relates to glass fiber reinforced polycarbonate compositions and molding compositions of the present investor and distinguished by high rigidity, high flowabillty, high processing stability, good chemical resistance and good aging resistance vis-à-vis the effects of light and heat compared with the prior art. The present invention also relates to the use of the compositions for the production of shaded articles and to shaped articles comprising the compositions according to the invention. |
| US08779028B2 |
Ink for ink-jet recording apparatus
An ink for an ink-jet recording apparatus contains at least water, a pigment dispersion, and a penetrating agent. The pigment dispersion contains a resin having a molecular weight of about 60,000 or more and about 150,000 or less. The ink for an ink-jet recording apparatus contains an alkanediol having 8 or 9 carbon atoms as the penetrating agent. The content of the alkanediol is about 0.2% by mass or more relative to the total mass of the ink. |
| US08779023B2 |
In situ formation of nanoparticles in resins
Methods of forming antimicrobial polymeric materials comprising metallic nanoparticles are disclosed. Such methods generally comprise: combining a metal-containing material with a resin in situ; and curing the resin in the presence of a metal-containing material. Antimicrobial polymeric materials formed by said methods are also disclosed. |
| US08779022B2 |
Polymer components
Conventional curable polymers tend to shrink upon curing whilst low shrinkage ultraviolet light curing polymers have a problem with respect to curing below surface areas of a component. By providing light transmitting elements and/or local ultraviolet light source precursors, greater depth of ultraviolet curing can be achieved and therefore enhanced acceptability with regard to component manufacture. The light transmitting elements may be formed by optic fibers or coatings to existing reinforcing fibers or through consideration of the refractive index of the cured and uncured polymer to create light transmission paths through the component. Ultraviolet light source precursors can be activated by heat or a “seed” light exposure or vibration to create localised ultraviolet curing of the polymer thereabout. |
| US08779020B2 |
Polishing pad
A polishing pad generates very few scratches on a surface of a polishing object, and is excellent in planarization property. The polishing pad has a high polishing rate and is excellent in planarization property. The polishing pad grooves become very little clogged with abrasive grains or polishing swarf during polishing and, even when continuously used for a long period of time, the polishing rate is scarcely reduced. |
| US08779019B2 |
Expanded particle of noncrosslinked polyethylene-based resin and expansion molded article of noncrosslinked polyethylene-based resin
A noncrosslinked polyethylene resin expanded particle is provided having a bulk density BD in a range of 10 g/L to 100 g/L, the particle being obtained by expanding a polyethylene resin particle whose density is in a range of 0.920 g/cm3 to 0.940 g/cm3, the noncrosslinked polyethylene resin expanded particle having a shrinkage factor in a range of 2% to 30%, the shrinkage factor being obtained by the following formula (1): Shrinkage Factor =(BD−VBD)×100/VBD (1), wherein: the BD of the noncrosslinked polyethylene expanded particle is a bulk density at 23° C. and at 0.1 MPa (at a normal atmospheric pressure); and the VBD of the noncrosslinked polyethylene expanded particle is a bulk density at 23° C. and at a reduced pressure of 0.002 MPa or less. |
| US08779017B2 |
Foam and production method of the same
A resin foam having fine foam cells is provided at low cost. A method of producing the foam includes preparing a molten resin composition and continuous extrusion foaming of the molten resin composition. The molten resin composition is prepared by melting a resin mixture of resins (A) and (B) by dissolving a foaming agent into the resin mixture. Resins (A) and (B) respectively have appropriately selected glass transition temperatures and resin (B) particles of appropriate diameter are dispersed in resin (A). |
| US08779013B2 |
Process and apparatus for converting greenhouse gases into synthetic fuels
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to apparatus and methods for converting carbon dioxide and/or methane into higher alkanes and hydrogen gas in a single reaction chamber using a catalyst and microwave radiation. |
| US08779012B2 |
Biodegradable polyorganosiloxane demulsifier composition and method for making the same
There is provided herein a demulsifying composition comprising at least one polyorganosiloxane compound having the general formula (I): M1aM2bD1cD2dT1eT2fQg (I) wherein: M1=R1R2R3SiO1/2, M2=R4R5RLSiO1/2, D1=R6R7SiO2/2, D2=R8RLSiO2/2, T1=R9SiO3/2, T2=RLSiO3/2, Q=SiO4/2, where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are each independently chosen from monovalent alkyl, aryl or aralkyl hydrocarbon radicals, or chosen from RP; RP is a monovalent polyether radical independently of the general formula (II): —(CnH2n)—O—(C2H4O)o—(C3H6O)p—(C4H8O)q—R10 (II) RL is a monovalent radical independently chosen from the general formula (III): —X—O—(C2H4O)r—(C3H6O)s—(C4H8O)t—{C(O)CuH2uO}v—R11 (III) There is also provided herein a method for separating emulsions comprising combining the components of the demulsification composition into a mixture; allowing the mixture to separate into at least two phases and separating said at least two phases from each other. |
| US08779011B2 |
Ultrapure colloidal silica for use in chemical mechanical polishing applications
A method for producing and using an ultrapure colloidal silica dispersion is disclosed. The ultrapure colloidal silica dispersion has less than 200 ppb of each trace metal impurity disposed therein, excluding potassium and sodium, and less than 2 ppm residual alcohol. The method comprises dissolving a fumed silica in an aqueous solvent comprising an alkali metal hydroxide to produce an alkaline silicate solution, removing the alkali metal via ion exchange to generate a silicic acid solution, adjusting temperature, concentration and pH of said silicic acid solution to values sufficient to initiate nucleation and particle growth, and cooling the silicic acid solution at a rate sufficient to produce the colloidal silica dispersion. |
| US08779008B2 |
Polymeric micelles for drug delivery
The present invention relates to the field of polymer chemistry and more particularly to multiblock copolymers and micelles comprising the same. |
| US08779002B2 |
Methods for treating a variety of diseases and conditions, and compounds useful therefor
In accordance with the present invention, there are provided novel compounds that have a variety of properties, i.e., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Invention compounds, therefore, have the ability to impart a variety of beneficial physiological effects, e.g., to protect neurons and/or to promote neuroregeneration and/or to promote memory formation and/or to act as protein phosphatase or kinase inhibitors and/or to act as lipoxygenase inhibitors. Such compounds are useful for treatment of a variety of indications, including neurodegenerative diseases and conditions, diabetes, ischemia associated with heart disease, and memory deficit. In another aspect of the present invention, there are also provided formulations containing one or more of the above-described compounds, optionally further containing additional neurologically active compound(s) and/or adjuvants to facilitate delivery thereof across the blood/brain barrier. In still another aspect of the present invention, there are further provided methods for treating a wide variety of neurological indications, e.g., acute neural injuries, chronic injuries, promoting memory formation, and the like. |
| US08778999B2 |
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ophthalmic compositions
The disclosure provides compositions and systems for topical ophthalmic application, which include an aqueous mixture of bromfenac and flowable mucoadhesive polymer, for treating inflammation and inflammatory conditions of the eye. |
| US08778997B2 |
Antiviral treatments
The invention provides unit dosage forms, kits, and methods useful for treating viral infections. |
| US08778995B2 |
Use of hydroxyoleic acid and related compounds in the manufacture of drugs
Use of hydroxyoleic acid and its analogous compounds in the manufacture of drugs. Describes the use of hydroxyoleic acid and its analogs of general formula I: COOH—CHR—(CH2)m—CH═CH—(CH2)n—CH3, in which m and n have, independently, a value of 0-15 and R can be any residue with molecular weight below 200 Da, in the manufacture of drugs that can be used in the treatment of cancer, hypertension, obesity or diseases mediated by alteration of the membrane structure and the consequent regulation of G-proteins or of the receptors coupled to them. |
| US08778994B2 |
Method of using beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate and fatty acids for treating disease-associated wasting
The present invention relates to methods for the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, cancer, and involuntary weight loss. In the practice of the present invention patients are enterally administered HMB alone or alternatively in combination with eicosapentaenoic (20:5 ω-3), FOS, carnitine and mixtures thereof. HMB may be added to food products comprising a source of amino-nitrogen enriched with large neutral amino acids such as leucine, isoleucine, valine, tyrosine, threonine and phenylalanine and subtantially lacking in free amino acids. |
| US08778993B2 |
Method of using β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate for the treatment of disease conditions
The present invention relates to methods for the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, cancer, and involuntary weight loss. In the practice of the present invention patients are enterally administered HMB alone or alternatively in combination with eicosapentaenoic (20:5 ω-3), FOS, carnitine and mixtures thereof. HMB may be added to food products comprising a source of amino-nitrogen enriched with large neutral amino acids such as leucine, isoleucine, valine, tyrosine, threonine and phenylalanine and substantially lacking in free amino acids. |
| US08778991B2 |
Prodrugs of methyl hydrogen fumarate, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of use
Prodrugs of methyl hydrogen fumarate, pharmaceutical compositions comprising prodrugs of methyl hydrogen fumarate, and methods of using prodrugs of methyl hydrogen fumarate and pharmaceutical compositions thereof for treating diseases such as psoriasis, asthma, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and arthritis are disclosed. |
| US08778985B2 |
Inhibiting amyloid-beta peptide/rage interaction at the blood-brain barrier
Small molecules are used to inhibit specific receptor-ligand interaction between Alzheimer's amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) and Receptor for Advanced Gly-cation Endproducts (RAGE). Objectives include treating Alzheimer's disease and other pathologies involving cerebral amyloid angiopathy; improving blood flow to or within the brain; decreasing the level of Aβ in the brain; reducing neuropathology associated with Alzheimer's disease; reducing inflammation and/or oxidant stress in the brain; improving memory and/or learning; treating other conditions involving Aβ/RAGE interaction at the blood-brain barrier, RAGE-mediated transport of Aβ into the brain, or RAGE activation in brain vasculature and/or brain parenchyma (e.g., diabetic complications); or any combination thereof. |
| US08778984B2 |
Aldosterone synthase inhibitor
The present invention provides aldosterone synthase inhibitors of the formula: intermediates, methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical preparations, and methods for their use. |
| US08778983B2 |
Polycyclic compounds as lysophosphatidic acid receptor antagonists
Described herein are compounds that are antagonists of lysophosphatidic receptor(s). Also described are pharmaceutical compositions and medicaments that include the compounds described herein, as well as methods of using such antagonists, alone and in combination with other compounds, for treating LPA-dependent or LPA-mediated conditions or diseases. |
| US08778981B2 |
Methods and compositions for locally increasing body fat
Provided are methods for increasing fat locally in a body of a subject in need thereof comprising percutaneously administering to the subcutaneous fat of the subject a thiazolidinedione or an orexigenic compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, optionally delivered as a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, as described herein. In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises a percutaneous carrier, as described herein. Further provided are compositions comprising a thiazolidinedione or an orexigenic compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, for use according to the invention. |
| US08778980B2 |
Heterocyclic aspartyl protease inhibitors
Disclosed are compounds of the formula I or a stereoisomer, tautomer, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein W is a bond, —C(═S)—, —S(O)—, —S(O)2—, —C(═O)—, —O—, —C(R6)(R7)—, —N(R5)— or —C(═N(R5))—; X is —O—, —N(R5)— or —C(R6)(R7)—; provided that when X is —O—, U is not —O—, —S(O)—, —S(O)2—, —C(═O)— or —C(═NR5)—; U is a bond, —S(O)—, —S(O)2—, —C(O)—, —O—, —P(O)(OR15)—, —C(═NR5)—, —(C(R6)(R7))b— or —N(R5)—; wherein b is 1 or 2; provided that when W is —S(O)—, —S(O)2—, —O—, or —N(R5)—, U is not —S(O)—, —S(O)2—, —O—, or —N(R5)—; provided that when X is —N(R5)— and W is —S(O)—, —S(O)2—, —O—, or —N(R5)—, then U is not a bond; and R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7 are as defined in the specification; and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of formula I. Also disclosed is the method of inhibiting aspartyl protease, and in particular, the methods of treating cardiovascular diseases, cognitive and neurodegenerative diseases, and the methods of inhibiting of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, plasmepins, cathepsin D and protozoal enzymes.Also disclosed are methods of treating cognitive or neurodegenerative diseases using the compounds of formula I in combination with a cholinesterase inhibitor or a muscarinic m1 agonist or m2 antagonist. |
| US08778971B2 |
Medicinal treatment of dermal diseases in companion animals
The methods disclosed herein relate to the treatment of skin infections in dogs, by administering a therapeutically effective amount of norketotifen. Therapeutic antimicrobial activity of norketotifen against Malassezia sp. is described. |
| US08778970B2 |
Benzyl piperidine compound
Provided is a new serotonin-reuptake inhibitor that exhibits affinity for serotonin-1A receptors. Said serotonin-reuptake inhibitor is a compound represented by formula (1) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof. In the formula, R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a 2-hydroxyethyl group, or a 2-methoxyethyl group. R2 represents one of the following bonded to a methylene group which is bonded to a piperidine ring: a chlorine atom bonded in a p-position; a bromine atom bonded in a p-position; a methyl group bonded in a p-position; a chlorine atom bonded in an m-position; or a bromine atom bonded in an m-position. Either Y1 represents a hydrogen atom and Y2 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, or Y1 and Y2 together represent an oxo group. Z represents a group represented by one of the following formulas: formula (3-1-1), formula (3-1-2), formula (3-2-1), formula (3-2-2), formula (3-3-1), formula (3-3-2), formula (3-4-1), or formula (3-4-2). However, if R1 represents a 2-hydroxyethyl group or a 2-methoxyethyl group and Y1 and Y2 both simultaneously represent hydrogen atoms, then Z represents a group represented by one of the following formulas: formula (3-1-2), formula (3-2-1), formula (3-2-2), formula (3-3-1), formula (3-3-2), formula (3-4-1), or formula (3-4-2). |
| US08778969B2 |
Nitrone, nitroso, and nitroxide spintraps and spin labels and their hydroxylamines
Nitrone, nitroso, and nitroxide spintraps and spin labels and their reduction products are claimed for the prevention and treatment of fibrocystic disease of breast, premenstrual dysphoric syndrome and associated symptomology, prevention and treatment of migraine headache, cyclic vomiting syndrome, rectal hemorrhoids, trigeminal neuralgia, peripheral vascular disease, influenza, peridontitis and gingivitis, herpes zoster, herpes simplex, and post-herpetic neuralgia. |
| US08778968B2 |
Male contraceptive
A compound having formula I. R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently H or lower alkyl. R5 is aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryloxy, heteroaryloxy, cycloalkyloxy, heterocycloalkyloxy, arylamino, heteroarylamino, cycloalkylamino, heterocycloalkyl amino, arylthio, heteroarylthio, cycloalkylthio, heterocycloalkylthio, or cyclic olefin, any of which may be substituted or non-substituted; or substituted alkyl, substituted alkyl oxy or substituted alkyl amino wherein the substituent is an aryl, a heteroaryl, a cycloalkyl, a heterocycloalkyl or a cyclic olefin, any of which may be substituted or non-substituted. X is C or N. n and p are independently whole numbers selected from 0, 1 and 2. (CH2)n and (CH2)p may be substituted or non-substituted. Ar1 and Ar2 are independently aryl or heteroaryl groups which may be substituted or non-substituted. Certain specific compounds are excluded.The compounds can be used in a medicament or a method for the reduction or prevention of the emission of sperm, or for the reduction or prevention of transmission of viral agents transmitted in seminal fluid. |
| US08778967B2 |
Chemokine receptor binding heterocyclic compounds with enhanced efficacy
The invention relates to heterocyclic compounds consisting of a core nitrogen atom surrounded by three pendant groups, wherein two of the three pendant groups are preferably benzimidazolyl methyl and tetrahydroquinolyl, and the third pendant group contains N and optionally contains additional rings. The compounds bind to chemokine receptors, including CXCR4 and CCR5, and demonstrate protective effects against infection of target cells by a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). |
| US08778963B2 |
Hydroxylamine and oxime substituted imidazoquinolines, imidazopyridines, and imidazonaphthyridines
Imidazo-quinoline, -pyridine, and -naphthyridine ring systems substituted at the 1-position, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, intermediates, and methods of use of these compounds as immunomodulators, for inducing cytokine biosynthesis in animals and in the treatment of diseases including viral and neoplastic diseases are disclosed. |
| US08778962B2 |
Treatment of solid tumors with rapamycin derivatives
Rapamycin derivatives have interesting effects in the treatment of solid tumours, optionally in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent. |
| US08778957B2 |
CGRP receptor antagonists
Compounds of Formula (I) (wherein variables A1, A2, A3, ring-B, m, n, J, E1, E2, E3, R5, RPG and Y are as described herein), which are useful as antagonists of CGRP receptors, and useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which CGRP receptors are involved, such as headache, and in particular migraine and cluster headache. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of formula (I) and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of diseases in which CGRP receptors are involved. |
| US08778954B2 |
Phenylpyridine derivative and medicinal agent comprising same
Disclosed are: a novel compound which has both an antagonistic activity on an angiotensin II receptor and a PPARγ-activating activity and is therefore useful as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for hypertension, heart diseases, arteriosclerosis, type-2 diabetes, diabetic complications, metabolic syndrome or the like; and a pharmaceutical composition containing the compound. Specifically disclosed are: a compound represented by general formula (I) (wherein the ring A represents a pyridine ring; the ring B represents a tetrazole ring or an oxadiazol-5(4H)-one ring; X represents C—R5 or a nitrogen atom; R1 represents a C1-6 alkyl group; R2 represents a C1-6 alkyl group or a C3-8 cycloalkyl group; and R3, R4, R5 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group, a halo-C1-6 alkyl group, or a C1-6 alkoxy group which may have a substituent), a salt of the compound, or a solvate of the compound or the salt; and a pharmaceutical composition containing the compound, the salt or the solvate. |
| US08778951B2 |
Heteroaryl compounds and their uses
The present invention provides a compound of formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, enantiomers, stereoisomers, rotamers, tautomers, diastereomers, or racemates thereof. Also provided is a method of treating a disease or condition mediated by CDK9. |
| US08778946B2 |
3-substituted-6-(pyridinylmethoxy)-pyrrolopyridine compounds
The invention provides certain 3-substituted-6-(pyridinylmethoxy)-pyrrolopyridine compounds, particularly compounds of formula I and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. The invention further provides methods of using a compound of formula I to treat Parkinsons disease Formula (I). |
| US08778945B2 |
Design, synthesis and evaluation of procaspase activating compounds as personalized anti-cancer drugs
Compositions and methods are disclosed in embodiments relating to induction of cell death such as in cancer cells. Compounds and related methods for synthesis and use thereof, including the use of compounds in therapy for the treatment of cancer and selective induction of apoptosis in cells are disclosed. Compounds are disclosed that have lower neurotoxicity effects than other compounds. |
| US08778944B2 |
Pyridazinone compounds
The present invention provides a compound which has the effect of PDE inhibition, and which is useful as a medicament for preventing or treating schizophrenia or so on. A compound of formula (I0), wherein R1 represents a substituent; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, or a substituent; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, or a substituent; Ring A represents an aromatic ring which can be substituted, and Ring B represents a 5-membered heteroaromatic ring which can be substituted, or a salt thereof. |
| US08778939B2 |
Compounds
The present invention relates to novel compounds that inhibit LRRK2 kinase activity, processes for their preparation, to compositions containing them and to their use in the treatment of diseases characterized by LRRK2 kinase activity, particularly Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. |
| US08778931B2 |
Substituted hydroxamic acids and uses thereof
This invention provides compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, X, p, q, m, n, and Ring C have values as described in the specification, useful as inhibitors of HDAC6. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of proliferative, inflammatory, infectious, neurological or cardiovascular diseases or disorders. |
| US08778921B2 |
Ansamycin hydroquinone compositions
Aspects of the present invention provide compositions comprising a sulfur containing compound and a compound of the formula (I); and also provide methods of their preparation and use. |
| US08778920B2 |
3-cyano-quinoline derivatives with antiproliferative activity
The present invention concerns the compounds of formula the N-oxide forms, the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein Z represents NH; Y represents —C3-9alkyl-, —C1-5alkyl-NR12—C1-5alkyl-, —C1-6alkyl-NH—CO— or —CO—NH—C1-6alkyl-; X1 represents —O—; X2 represents a direct bond, —NR11—C1-2alkyl-, —NR11—CH2—, —C1-2alkyl-, —O—C1-2alkyl, —O— or —O—CH2—; R1 represents hydrogen or halo; R2 represents hydrogen, cyano, halo, hydroxycarbonyl-, C1-4alkyloxycarbonyl-, Het16-carbonyl- or Ar5; R3 represents hydrogen, hydroxy, C1-4alkyloxy-, Ar4—C1-4alkyloxy or R3 represents C1-4alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents selected from C1-4alkyloxy- or Het2-; R10 represents hydrogen; R11 represents hydrogen, C1-4alkyl- or C1-4alkyl-oxy-carbonyl-; R12 represents Het14-C1-4alkyl, in particular morpholinyl-C1-4alkyl; Het2 represents a heterocycle selected from morpholinyl or piperidinyl optionally substituted with C1-4alkyl-, preferably methyl; Het14 represents morpholinyl; Het16 represents a heterocycle selected from morpholinyl or pyrrolidinyl; Ar4 represents phenyl; Ar5 represents phenyl optionally substituted with cyano. |
| US08778917B2 |
Pharmaceutical delivery systems for hydrophobic drugs and compositions comprising same
A drug delivery system for oral administration of hydrophobic drugs with enhanced and extended absorption and improved pharmacokinetics is provided. In one embodiment, formulations comprising testosterone and testosterone esters, e.g., testosterone palmitate, are disclosed. Methods of treating a hormone deficiency or effecting male contraception with the inventive formulations are also provided. |
| US08778914B2 |
Bisphosphonate-prodrugs
The present invention relates to a prodrug, comprising a pharmaceutically and/or diagnostically active compound, and one or more bisphosphonate groups, to a process for producing such a prodrug, and to a pharmaceutical composition comprising said prodrug, to be used for the treatment of bone-related disorders such as bone cancer. |
| US08778913B2 |
Antimicrobial compositions for treating microbial infections
The disclosure provides compounds and methods to treat a microbial or a bacterial pathogenesis, and demonstrates that the S. aureus pigment is a virulence factor and potential novel target for antimicrobial therapy. |
| US08778912B2 |
Composition of dialysis liquid comprising crystallisation inhibitor substances
This invention relates to a composition that comprises inositol phosphates and/or bisphosphonates, and to the use thereof to prevent the loss of substances of biological interest in the body of patients subjected to dialysis and to maintain sufficient physiological levels of said substances to regulate physiological and/or pathological processes, these substances being inhibitors of pathological crystallization. |
| US08778909B2 |
Method of applying an injectable filler
Methods for applying injectable fillers are provided. In some embodiments, the methods can extend effectiveness of the injectable filler. In some embodiments, the methods can provide for an elevated level of effectiveness of the injectable filler. In some embodiments, the methods can prolong the effectiveness of the injectable filler. |
| US08778907B2 |
Lactulose for bowel evacuation
A method of treating an adult patient in need of bowel evacuation via the administration of one or more doses of a bowel evacuant consisting of a total of from about 180 g to about 220 g of lactulose in a dosing regimen suitable to achieve bowel evacuation prior to a diagnostic, therapeutic or surgical procedure is disclosed. |
| US08778904B2 |
Methods and compositions for treating diseases, disorders or injury of the CNS
The present invention relates to non-invasive methods for treating diseases, disorders and injury to the central nervous system (CNS), and in particular to otic compositions and to methods of use thereof. |
| US08778903B2 |
MicroRNA-10 antagonists and MicroRNA-10 targets for use in the treatment of a glioma
The present invention embraces microRNA-antagonists and activators of homeobox D10 protein; Zinc finger, MYND domain containing 11 protein; or RB1-inducible coiled-coil 1 protein for use in decreasing glial tumor cell proliferation and treating glioma. |
| US08778897B2 |
Method of treatment using α-1-adrenergic agonist compounds
Methods for treating or preventing cardiomyopathy in a subject by administering an α1 adrenergic receptor agonist, wherein the treatment does not result in increased blood pressure are provided. |
| US08778892B2 |
Compounds and methods for treatment of solid tumors
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing targetable bioconjugates of hydralazine, a direct vasodilating agent previously shown to decrease tumor blood flow, oxygenation and interstitial fluid pressure in solid tumors. These bioconjugates are hydralazine prodrugs that contain hydralazine conjugated to biocompatible carrier molecules which specifically bind to sites that are expressed on a diverse variety of tumor cell types. These hydralazine prodrugs are preferably conjugated through an acid-labile hydrazone link that is designed to be stable in plasma and release hydralazine through acid-catalyzed hydrolysis in the acidic environment of the target tumor. Because these prodrugs are stable at physiological pH and in plasma, they are devoid of systemic vasoactive activity; however, they are acid-labile conjugates that can be hydrolyzed upon reaching the more acid environment of the tumor where the vasoactive activity of hydralazine is restored. These prodrugs selectively bind to tumor-specific receptors on tumor cells, and are degraded in the acidic tumor cell environment or the acidic lysosomal compartments after being internalized into the cell. |
| US08778886B2 |
Methods of making and using a cell penetrating peptide for enhanced delivery of nucleic acids, proteins, drugs, and adenovirus to tissues and cells, and compositions and kits
A peptide-POD with ability to penetrate and deliver fluorophores, siRNA, DNA and quantum dots to cells in culture and retinal and ocular tissues in vivo is provided herein. POD couples to adenovirus vectors, enhancing tropism for certain cells, potentially providing a safer and more efficacious method to deliver molecules to ocular and other tissues in vivo. POD constructs are therapeutic delivery vehicles for treating cells and tissues, including ocular cells and tissues suffering from retinal degeneration. |
| US08778883B2 |
Foamy biomaterial for biological tissue repair
A kit for producing a foamed biocompatible material includes a container configured to sustain a high pressure, and a tissue-repair composition placed in the container. The composition contains a biocompatible material, a liquid carrier, and a gas. The container has an internal pressure of greater than 1 atm and less than 250 atm, and includes a valve and a nozzle for releasing from the nozzle a foam formed of the composition upon opening the valve. Methods of producing and applying the biocompatible material are also disclosed. |
| US08778881B2 |
Peptidic vasopressin receptor agonists
The present application relates to novel compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, use of said compounds for the manufacture of a medicament for treatment of inter alia shock conditions as well as to a method for treatment of said conditions, wherein said compounds are administered. The compounds are represented by the general formula (I), as further defined in the specification. |
| US08778880B2 |
Human growth hormone modified at position 35
Modified human growth hormone polypeptides and uses thereof are provided. |
| US08778874B2 |
Glycopeptide antibiotic monomer derivatives
Novel glycopeptide antibiotic derivatives. These derivatives are represented by the formula (aglycon part of glycopeptide antibiotic derivative)-(Sac-NH)—RA [wherein (aglycon part of glycopeptide antibiotic derivative) is the part formed by removing the sugar part from a known glycopeptide antibiotic derivative; (Sac-NH) part is an amino sugar part or a sugar chain part containing an amino sugar; and RA represents, e.g., the formula —X1—Ar1—X2—Y—X3—Ar2 (wherein X1, X2, and X3 each represents 1) a single bond or 2) a heteroatom or heteroatom-containing group selected from the group consisting of —N═, ═N—, —NR1—, —O—, etc.; Y represents —NR2CO— or —CONR2— (wherein R2 represents hydrogen or lower alkyl), etc.)]. These derivatives have antibacterial activity against vancomycin-resistant bacteria. |
| US08778871B2 |
Metastin derivatives and use thereof
The invention provides stable metastin derivatives having excellent biological activities (a cancer metastasis suppressing activity, a cancer growth suppressing activity, etc.). By modifying the constituent amino acids of metastin with specific modifying groups, metastin derivatives having more improved blood stability, etc. than native metastin and showing excellent cancer metastasis suppressing activity or cancer growth suppressing activity have been found. Furthermore, it has been found that these metastin derivatives exhibit effects of suppressing gonadotropic hormone secretion, suppressing sex hormone secretion, etc., which are wholly different from the effects heretofore known. |
| US08778870B2 |
Modified factor IX polypeptides and uses thereof
Modified Factor IX (FIX) polypeptides and uses thereof are provided. Such modified FIX polypeptides include FIXa and other forms of FIX. Among the modified FIX polypeptides provided are those that have altered activities, typically altered procoagulant activity, including increased procoagulant activities. Hence, such modified polypeptides are therapeutics. |
| US08778869B2 |
Tissue regeneration system
A system for growing tissue based upon layers of an inorganic extracellular matrix, wherein each layer of the inorganic matrix is designed to dissolve at a separate rate and result in sequential growth factor delivery upon its dissolution. |
| US08778866B2 |
Continuous process of making a fabric softener composition
A continuous process of making a fabric softener composition comprising di(C6-C14)alkyl di(C1-C4 alkyl and/or hydroxyalkyl) quaternary and perfume, and a fabric softener composition obtained by the continuous process. The fabric softener composition obtained by the continuous process demonstrates a stable viscosity, especially while being stored for a prolonged period of time. |
| US08778864B2 |
Polyglyceryl compounds and compositions
Provided are compositions comprising one or more compounds having a structure comprising a node structure with from four to twelve carbon atoms, one or more (poly)glyceryl groups, and one or more hydrophobic moieties, wherein each of the one or more (poly)glyceryl groups is linked to the node structure by a first primary linking group, the one or more hydrophobic moieties are each independently linked either to the node structure by a primary linking group or to one of the (poly)glyceryl groups by a secondary linking group, and wherein the polyglyceryl thickener has an average degree of glyceryl polymerization of from greater than 3 to less than about 11 and an average number of hydrophobic groups per primary linking group of about 0.35 or greater. Also provided are polyglyceryl compounds, compositions comprising water, a surfactant, and a polyglyceryl thickener, as well as, methods of making polyglyceryl compounds and compositions of the present invention. |
| US08778863B2 |
Soaps from organic residues and method of producing the same
A novel method of producing soaps from organic residues, in which otherwise valueless organic residues are saponified, is disclosed. The method comprises steps of (a) preparing a solution of a base in water; (b) reacting said solution with stearic acid; (c) adding glycerol; (d) adding a borate; (e) adding a surface-active agent; (f) dispersing an organic residue within the mixture; and (g) reacting said organic residue until a homogeneous soap composition is obtained. A novel soap made by this process is also disclosed. |
| US08778861B2 |
Liquid soaps with triclocarban
An aqueous and liquid cleansing composition comprises a fatty acid soap, a salt of a lauryl ether sulfate surfactant that is present in an amount that is at least 50% of the weight of the fatty acid soap, a betaine surfactant that is present in an amount that is at least 23% of the weight of the fatty acid soap, and at least 0.05% by weight of the composition of triclocarban. The lauryl ether sulfate and betaine surfactant in the specified amount in relation to the fatty acid soap amount keep the triclocarban from precipitating out of the composition. |
| US08778860B2 |
Green disinfection/sanitization compositions and processes of making thereof
Cleaning and disinfecting compositions containing one or more “green” surfactants are disclosed. The compositions may be present as micro-emulsions that generally include green disinfecting agents, green surfactants, and water. The composition may also contain other green ingredients such as linkers, pH adjusting agents, natural fragrances, natural insecticides, and other natural organic actives such as natural oils. The composition may be used as a green cleaning and disinfecting composition with performance comparable or superior to conventional cleaning and disinfecting products with less desirable ecological profiles. |
| US08778859B2 |
Lubricant useful for improving the oil separation performance of a vapor compression system
Polymeric additives are disclosed for compressor lubricants which can reduce the tendency of the lubricant to become entrained in compressed gases and be carried forward as fine dispersed droplets in compressed gas systems such as compressed air, natural gas, and compression refrigeration systems. |
| US08778858B2 |
Amine derivatives as friction modifiers in lubricants
A composition is provided for use as a friction modifier for an automatic transmission, comprising a long chain hydrocarbyl amine having one or two additional groups on one or two different amine nitrogen atom thereof of the structure —R3-C(=0)X(R4)c. R3 is an alkylene group or a group comprising a group of 1-4 carbon atoms or a chain of 2 to 9 carbon atoms interrupted by one or two nitrogen or oxygen atoms within the chain; X is nitrogen or oxygen, and R4 is a long chain hydrocarbyl group, or H, or —R3-NHR5. The compound does not contain a primary amino group. |
| US08778854B2 |
Dispersant viscosity modifiers
The disclosed invention relates to a composition comprising a grafted polymer. The polymer comprises a backbone with at least one olefin block and at least one vinyl aromatic block. The polymer is grafted with a pendant carbonyl containing group, the grafting being conducted by halogenating the vinyl aromatic carbon of the vinyl aromatic block and then grafting a carboxylic acid or derivative thereof on the halogenated vinyl aromatic carbon in the presence of an activating agent. The carbonyl containing-group is optionally substituted to provide ester, imide and/or amide functionality. The grafted polymer is useful as a dispersant viscosity modifier in lubricating compositions such as engine oils. |
| US08778851B2 |
Methods for treating fibers
Fiber bundles are prepared by affixing at least two fibers with a binding agent. The binding agent is designed such that the fiber bundles remain intact as the fiber bundles are mixed with and suspended in a fluid. After the fiber bundles exit the mixing apparatus, the binding agent degrades and releases the individual fibers. This allows higher concentrations of fibers to be added to fluids without fouling the mixing apparatus. |
| US08778850B2 |
Biodegradable non-reactive oil-well stimulation fluid and method of use
Formulation for a natural product as a replacement for the use of traditional acidic chemical stimulation methods for the emulsification, removal and release of paraffin and asphaltenes from low producing or pumped off wells and reservoirs with the use of traditional methodologies. Also a method of use of formulation for stimulating an oil well consisting of introducing into the wellbore a biodegradable, non-reactive fluid system containing a water-miscible fatty acid solvent, a solution of fatty acids, an amino alcohol, and at least one non-ionic surfactant. The fluid system may be further in the form of a nanoemulsion that is formed by combining a colloidal solution with one or more emulsifiers, an alcohol, and water. The fluid system may be used in well remediation and stimulation as well as additional, alternative applications such as the cleaning of surface and/or downhole equipment. |
| US08778848B2 |
Patterned flow-cells useful for nucleic acid analysis
Provided is a surface having metal regions and an interstitial region having a composition that differs from the metal regions, wherein a continuous gel layer coats the surface across the metal regions and the interstitial regions. Nucleic acids or other analytes can be attached to the continuous gel layer such that a greater amount is attached over the metal regions than over the interstitial region. Also provided are methods for making such surfaces. Methods are also provided for making an array of nucleic acids or other analytes using such surfaces. |
| US08778846B2 |
Composition, device and associated method
A composition includes a first probe, a first initiator component bonded to the first probe, a second probe, and a second initiator component bonded to the second probe. The first probe and the second probe are capable of binding to a single analyte, and the first initiator component and the second initiator component are capable of forming an initiator when present in proximity to each other and when the first probe and the second probe are bonded to the analyte. An associated kit, device, and method are provided. |
| US08778845B2 |
Composition, device and associated method
A composition includes a first probe and a first initiator bonded to the first probe. The first probe is capable of binding to an analyte and the first initiator is capable of initiating a controlled polymerization reaction. An associated kit, device, and method are provided. |
| US08778843B1 |
Semi-pan-protozoal by quantitative PCR
Disclosed are compositions, kits, and methods for detecting, extracting, visualizing, and identifying a pathogenic protozoan. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction in connection with specifically designed oligonucleotide probes are used to detect a variety of pathogenic protozoans in patient samples. |
| US08778841B2 |
Precursor for a Nb3Sn superconductor wire, method for manufacturing the same, Nb3Sn superconductor wire, and superconducting magnet system
A precursor for a Nb3Sn superconductor wire to be manufactured by the internal diffusion method. The precursor includes Nb-based single core wires, Sn-based single core wires, and a cylindrical diffusion barrier made of Ta or Nb. Each Nb-based single core wire includes a Nb-based core coated with a Cu-based coating made of a Cu-based matrix. Each Sn-based single core wire includes a Sn-based core coated with a Cu-based coating made of a Cu-based matrix. The Nb-based single core wires and the Sn-based single core wires are regularly disposed in the diffusion barrier. The Nb-based single core wires includes at least two kinds of Nb-based single core wires having different Cu/Nb ratios and the Cu/Nb ratio is a cross sectional area ratio of the Cu-based coating to the Nb-based core. |
| US08778834B2 |
Card-shaped data carrier
A multi-layer card-shaped data carrier has a marking layer containing a hidden marking, and a thermochromic cover layer arranged over the marking layer at least in the area of the hidden marking. The thermochromic cover layer is opaque below its change temperature, hides the marking, and is translucent or transparent above its change temperature, enabling viewing of the marking. The thermochromic cover layer is pervious to radiation outside the visible spectral range and the marking layer absorbs radiation energy outside the visible spectral range, so that the hidden marking can be incorporated into the marking layer through the thermochromic cover layer by laser radiation of a wavelength outside the visible spectral range. |
| US08778832B2 |
Fischer-tropsch catalyst
The present invention is directed to a catalyst suitable for catalyzing a Fischer-Tropsch reaction, said catalyst comprising cobalt metal supported on zinc-oxide and having the following particle size distribution by volume: <10% having a particle size below 1 micron, 70-99% having a particle size between 1 and 5 micron, and <20% having a particle size above 5 micron. |
| US08778829B2 |
Methanol electro-oxidation catalyst and method of making the same
The active methanol electro-oxidation catalysts include nano-oxides of transition metals (i.e., iron, cobalt and nickel) and platinum-ruthenium alloy nano-particles. The nano-oxides of the transition metals are dispersed during synthesis of a support material, such as mesoporous carbon. The catalyst includes a support material formed from mesoporous carbon, a nano-oxide of a transition metal dispersed in the support material, and platinum-ruthenium alloy nano-particles supported on the nano-oxide of the transition metal, the platinum-ruthenium alloy nano-particles (in a 1:1 molar ratio) forming about 15 wt % of the methanol electro-oxidation catalyst, the transition metals forming about 15 wt % of the methanol electro-oxidation catalyst, and carbon and oxygen forming the balance of about 70 wt % of the methanol electro-oxidation catalyst. |
| US08778819B2 |
Dielectric ceramic composition, multilayer dielectric substrate, electronic component, and method for producing dielectric ceramic composition
Disclosed is a dielectric ceramic composition which has high dielectric constant and suppressed low thermal expansion coefficient. Also disclosed are a multilayer dielectric substrate using the dielectric ceramic composition, and an electronic component. Specifically disclosed is a dielectric ceramic composition which contains an ATiO3 (wherein A represents either Ca and/or Sr) phase and an AAl2Si2O8 phase, said dielectric ceramic composition being characterized in that the dielectric constant is not less than 10 at 3 GHz and the average thermal expansion coefficient over the temperature range of 40-600° C. is less than 7 ppm/° C. |
| US08778815B2 |
Film forming method
A method of forming a polyimide film on a surface of a substrate by dehydration condensation of a first monomer including a bifunctional acid anhydride and a second monomer including a bifunctional amine is disclosed. The method includes loading the substrate into a processing chamber, heating the substrate at a temperature at which a polyimide film is formed, and performing a cycle a predetermined number of times. The cycle comprises supplying a first processing gas containing the first monomer to the substrate, supplying a second processing gas containing the second monomer to the substrate. The method further includes supplying a replacement gas in the processing chamber between supplying the first processing gas and supplying the second processing gas thereby replacing atmosphere in the processing chamber by the replacement gas, and evacuating the first and/or the second processing gas out of the processing chamber. |
| US08778814B2 |
Silicon oxycarbide, growth method of silicon oxycarbide layer, semiconductor device and manufacture method for semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of: preparing an underlying structure having a silicon carbide layer covering a copper wiring, and growing silicon oxycarbide on the underlying structure by vapor deposition using, as source gas, tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane, carbon dioxide gas and oxygen gas, a flow rate of said oxygen gas being at most 3% of a flow rate of the carbon dioxide gas. The surface of the silicon carbide layer of the underlying structure may be treated with a plasma of weak oxidizing gas which contains oxygen and has a molecular weight larger than that of O2 to bring the surface more hydrophilic. Film peel-off and cracks in the interlayer insulating layer decrease. |
| US08778811B2 |
Low temperature migration enhanced Si-Ge epitaxy with plasma assisted surface activation
Epitaxial films are grown by alternately exposed to precursor dosing regions, inert gas plasma regions, hydrogen-containing plasma regions, chlorine-containing plasma and metrology regions, or regions where an atomic hydrogen source is located. Alternately, laser irradiation techniques may be substituted for the plasma energy in some of the processing regions. The film growth process can be implemented at substrate temperatures between about 25 C and about 600 C, together with optional exposures to laser irradiation to cause the surface of the film to melt or to experience a near-melt condition. |
| US08778805B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, an opening formed in a semiconductor substrate by using a mask and covering an inner side face of the opening with a sidewall protective film. The mask is removed, while a part of the sidewall protective film remains. |
| US08778801B2 |
Method for forming seed layer structure
A seed layer comprises a bottom seed layer portion formed on the bottom of a via opening, a sidewall seed layer portion formed on an upper portion of the sidewall of the via opening and a corner seed layer portion formed between the bottom seed layer portion and the sidewall seed layer portion. The sidewall seed layer portion is of a first thickness. The corner seed layer portion is of a second thickness and the second thickness is greater than the first thickness. |
| US08778800B1 |
Methods of making supercapacitor cells and micro-supercapacitors
This invention provides a micro-supercapacitor with high energy density and high power density. In some variations, carbon nanostructures, such as carbon nanotubes, coated with a metal oxide, such as ruthenium oxide, are grown in a supercapacitor cavity that contains no separator. A lid is bonded to the cavity using a bonding process to form a hermetic seal. These micro-supercapacitors may be fabricated from silicon-on-insulator wafers according to the disclosed methods. An exemplary micro-supercapacitor is cubic with a length of about 50-100 μm. The absence of a separator translates to higher energy storage volume and less wasted space within the supercapacitor cell. The energy density of the micro-supercapacitor may exceed 150 J/cm3 and the peak output power density may be in the range of about 2-20 W/cm3, in various embodiments. |
| US08778799B2 |
Laser removal of conductive seed layers
A method for making conductive traces and interconnects on a surface of a substrate includes, for an embodiment, forming a dielectric or polymer layer on the surface of the substrate, forming a seed layer of an electrically conductive material on the dielectric or polymer layer, patterning a photoresist on the seed layer, forming the conductive traces on the patterned photoresist and seed layer, removing the photoresist from the substrate, and irradiating the surface of the substrate with a fluence of laser light effective to ablate the seed layer from areas of the substrate surface exclusive of the conductive traces. |
| US08778797B2 |
Systems and methods for selective tungsten deposition in vias
A method for processing a substrate includes providing a substrate including a metal layer, a dielectric layer arranged on the metal layer, and at least one of a via and a trench formed in the dielectric layer; depositing a metal using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) during a first deposition period, wherein the first deposition period is longer than a first nucleation period that is required to deposit the metal on the metal layer; stopping the first deposition period prior to a second nucleation delay period, wherein the second nucleation period is required to deposit the metal on the dielectric layer; performing the depositing and the stopping N times, where N is an integer greater than or equal to one; and after the performing, depositing the metal using CVD during a second deposition period that is longer than the second nucleation delay period. |
| US08778796B2 |
Multilayer line trimming
Substantially simultaneous plasma etching of polysilicon and oxide layers in multilayer lines in semiconductors allows for enhanced critical dimensions and aspect ratios of the multilayer lines. Increasing multilayer line aspect ratios may be possible, allowing for increased efficiency, greater storage capacity, and smaller critical dimensions in semiconductor technologies. |
| US08778795B2 |
Metallization systems of semiconductor devices comprising a copper/silicon compound as a barrier material
In sophisticated metallization systems of semiconductor devices, a sensitive core metal, such as copper, may be efficiently confined by a conductive barrier material comprising a copper/silicon compound, such as a copper silicide, which may provide superior electromigration behavior and higher electrical conductivity compared to conventionally used tantalum/tantalum nitride barrier systems. |
| US08778794B1 |
Interconnection wires of semiconductor devices
Disclosed are a method to fabricate interconnection wires of a semiconductor device in a way to utilize benefits of copper interconnection and low k dielectric insulation while avoiding the problem of low k damage due to etching processes, and so fabricated interconnection wires. The method saves fabrication time and cost by reduced number of steps and also resolves metal gap fill issue. The method may comprise providing layers of a substrate, an etch stop layer and a sacrificial layer, forming first spacers, forming first copper interconnecting wires, removing the first spacers; forming polymer-like second spacers by depositing plasma gases in an etching chamber, forming second metal interconnecting wires, removing the second spacers to define channels interwoven with alternating first and second metal interconnecting wires, forming an anti-diffusion barrier around each of the first and second metal interconnecting wires, and filling the channels with a dielectric material for insulation. |
| US08778792B2 |
Solder bump connections
Solder bump connections and methods for fabricating solder bump connections. The method includes forming a layer stack containing first and second conductive layers, forming a dielectric passivation layer on a top surface of the second conductive layer, and forming a via opening extending through the dielectric passivation layer to the top surface of the second conductive layer. The method further includes forming a conductive plug in the via opening. The solder bump connection includes first and second conductive layers comprised of different conductors, a dielectric passivation layer on a top surface of the second conductive layer, a via opening extending through the dielectric passivation layer to the top surface of the second conductive layer, and a conductive plug in the via opening. |
| US08778790B2 |
Manufacturing method of semiconductor device and semiconductor device
A rewiring is formed by forming a Cu seed layer of copper over an opening and insulating films, forming a photoresist film over the Cu seed layer, a step of forming copper film by plating-growth over the Cu seed layer, and forming a Ni film. After forming an Au film in an opening (pad region) over the rewiring, the photoresist film is removed and passivation processing is performed on the Ni film. Then, the Cu seed layer other than the formation region of the rewiring is etched. According to these steps, a passivation film is formed on the surface of the Ni film and the reduction in film thickness of the Ni film by the etching can be reduced. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce trouble due to distortion of a substrate resulting from an increase in thickness of the Ni film in view of reduction in film thickness. |
| US08778785B2 |
Process for forming an electroactive layer
There is provided a process for forming a layer of electroactive material having a substantially flat profile. The process includes the steps of providing a workpiece having at least one active area; depositing a liquid composition including the electroactive material onto the workpiece in the active area, to form a wet layer; treating the wet layer on the workpiece at a controlled temperature in the range of −25 to 80° C. and under a vacuum in the range of 10−6 to 1,000 Torr, for a first period of 1-100 minutes, to form a partially dried layer; and heating the partially dried layer to a temperature above 100° C. for a second period of 1-50 minutes to form a dried layer. |
| US08778780B1 |
Method for defining semiconductor devices
Techniques for fabricating metal devices, such as vertical light-emitting diode (VLED) devices, power devices, laser diodes, and vertical cavity surface emitting laser devices, are provided. Devices produced accordingly may benefit from greater yields and enhanced performance over conventional metal devices, such as higher brightness of the light-emitting diode and increased thermal conductivity. Moreover, the invention discloses techniques in the fabrication arts that are applicable to GaN-based electronic devices in cases where there is a high heat dissipation rate of the metal devices that have an original non- (or low) thermally conductive and/or non- (or low) electrically conductive carrier substrate that has been removed. |
| US08778779B2 |
Semiconductor device and a method for producing semiconductor device
A method for producing semiconductor device includes: performing first, second and third exposures of a photoresist film formed on a semiconductor wafer via a mask; wherein: first, second and third shot regions respectively defined by the first, second and third exposures are aligned in a first direction; the mask has a shot region including a peripheral scribe region having a first and second side crossing the first direction; the photoresist film is of positive type, a first pattern is formed as a light shielding pattern disposed on the first side, and a second pattern is formed as a light transmitting region disposed on the second side; the first and second exposures are performed in such a manner that the first and second patterns do not overlap each other; and the second and third exposures are performed in such a manner that the first and second patterns overlap each other. |
| US08778777B2 |
Method for manufacturing a heterostructure aiming at reducing the tensile stress condition of a donor substrate
A method for manufacturing a heterostructure for applications in the fields of electronics, photovoltaics, optics or optoelectronics, by implanting atomic species in a donor substrate so as to form an embrittlement area therein, assembling a receiver substrate on the donor substrate, wherein the receiver substrate has a larger thermal expansion coefficient than that of the donor substrate, detaching a rear portion of the donor substrate along the embrittlement area so as to transfer a thin layer of interest of the donor substrate onto the receiver substrate, and applying a detachment annealing after assembling and but before detaching, in order to facilitate the detaching. The detachment annealing includes the simultaneous application of a first temperature to the donor substrate and a second temperature different from the first to the receiver substrate; with the first and second temperatures being selected to reduce the tensile stress condition of the donor substrate. |
| US08778776B2 |
Methods of forming a semiconductor package using a seed layer and semiconductor packages formed using the same
Provided is a method of forming a semiconductor package including providing a substrate having a first side and an opposite second side and providing a wafer having a plurality of semiconductor chips, each of the semiconductor chips having a conductive pad, wherein at least one of the substrate and the wafer includes a seed pattern. The first side of the substrate is bonded to the wafer with the conductive pad positioned adjacent to the first side of the substrate and the seed pattern positioned between the conductive pad and the first side of the substrate. A through hole is then formed penetrating the substrate from the second side of the substrate to expose the seed pattern. A through electrode is formed in the through hole using the seed pattern as a seed. Corresponding devices are also provided. |
| US08778775B2 |
Method for preparing thin GaN layers by implantation and recycling of a starting substrate
A method for preparing a thin layer of GaN from a starting substrate in which at least one thick surface area extending along a free face of the starting substrate includes GaN, where the method includes bombarding the free face of the substrate with helium and hydrogen atoms, the helium being implanted first into the thickness of the thick surface area and the hydrogen being implanted thereafter, and where the helium and hydrogen doses each vary between 1.1017 atoms/cm2 and 4.1017 atoms/cm2. The starting substrate is subjected to a rupture process in order to induce the separation, relative to a residue of the starting substrate, of the entire portion of the thick area located between the free face and the helium and hydrogen implantation depth. The helium is advantageously implanted in a dose at least equal to that of hydrogen, and can also be implanted alone. |